Did Conway School District Security Director Eric King Commit Theft Of Property & Abuse Of Power ?….Records Prove Yes.

Wanna hear a story of theft ?

Guy steals taxpayer money from a school district thinking no one will notice….Someone does notice and begins inquiring….Guy gets wind of the inquiry and tries to sneak the stolen money back into the school district so it looks like it was never gone….Guy fails miserably and gets caught.

Did I mention that’s a true story ?

Eric King is the Director of Security for the Conway School District. He also sits on the Conway Civil Service Commission…the same Commission that former Conway PD Officer Brittany Byrd appealed her wrongful termination to.

That appeal was heard on the hearing dates of August 20th, August 21^st, September 8^th, September 9^th, September 16^th, September 19^th and October 10^th of this year.

During those dates King was acting in his role as Commissioner and not as Director of Security for the school district….In short, he was off work on those dates.

Now District employees get paid once a month. King’s payment detail from his payroll check on August 15^th reflects he had one paid personal day left to take for the year and nineteen vacations days. District employees accrue one vacation day each pay period.

King’s September 15^th check and payment detail prove he took one paid personal and one paid vacation day for August 20^th & 21st….No problem there right ?

However, King’s October 15^th check and payment detail prove that on the hearing dates of September 8^th, 9^th, 16^th, 19^th and October 10^th, he took NO personal or vacation days.

King’s base salary, under his current 240-day contract for this school year, is $91,711.58. That means he illegally received $1,910.66 in payment from the District for services he did not provide during those five dates.

That’s not speculation….That’s indisputable Fact.

Here’s another indisputable Fact.

Under State criminal law that’s called Theft of Property and Abuse of Office–

AR Code 5-36-103 (a) (1) – “A person commits theft of property if he or she knowingly takes or exercises unauthorized control over or makes an unauthorized transfer of an interest in the property of another person with the purpose of depriving the owner of the property.”

AR Code 5-52-107 (a) – “A person commits the offense of abuse of office if, being a public servant, or being a person elected, appointed, or otherwise designated to become a public servant although not yet occupying that position, and with the purpose of benefiting in a pecuniary fashion or obtaining a sexual favor for himself or herself or another person or of harming another person, the person knowingly commits an unauthorized act which purports to be an act of his or her office.”

Both are Class D Felonies.

So does this story get better, or should I say worse ?….Yeah….It does.

On November 2^nd I sent my first FOI request to the District for King’s payroll records, and I copied King on that request.

At that point, King, Superintendent Jason Black, Deputy Superintendent Karen Lasker, Assistant Superintendent Andy Ashley and Chief Legal Officer Shasta Wagner all knew what I was investigating….and then came the attempted cover up.

They began their usual game of hide-and-seek with me on the records which they never win.

You think they would realize by now they really suck at Hide….And I’m really good at Seek.

After two more FOI requests, one on November 7th and one on November 16^th, they ran out of road and I got the records to prove the theft….and the attempted coverup.

Get this….all of a sudden, after my requests on the 2^nd and 7^th, King’s November 14^th check and payment detail reflected that five vacation days were taken for that pay period….that King did not take…. in an effort to cover the five days of theft in the October 15^th pay period payment.

Now in response to the FOI Request I sent on the 7th, the District provided me an attendance report, generated that same day, on King for the hearing dates.

As you can see the personal day and vacation day for August 20^th & 21^st were posted. The other five dates were listed….but not posted.

Jason Black…. smoke and mirrors don’t work with me….You need to save that for the county fair.

I called King yesterday and didn’t get him; however, he promptly returned my call which I appreciate. Once he knew why I was calling the conversation became very awkward on his part.

District Policy requires employees to submit requests for approval of personal and vacation days before taking them. King admitted he did not submit for either.

He also admitted he did not record the five vacations days until after the hearings were completed….You know….After I started inquiring.

King further stated Ashley, Lasker and Wagner all new what he was doing….I don’t doubt that one bit.

Here is that interview –

So where does this leave us ?

Well after Thanksgiving I’m going to gather more records….and then I’m going to challenge the School Board to provide accountability….to do what is right.

Think about this….If you or I stole $1,910.66 from the District, just what do you think would happen ?

#FactsNotFiction

Jimmie Cavin

Professional Bully Fighter I investigate and report on issues around the State of Arkansas with an emphasis on Government. I am strong conservative however I bring Truth and Facts regardless of Party affiliation….My hashtag is #FactsNotFiction