DANVILLE, Ark. — A 49-year-old woman is facing a theft of property charge after allegedly stealing $39,982 from multiple accounts while working for the Yell County Sheriff's Office.
According to an affidavit, Chasity Gault, the wife of Yell County Sheriff Nick Gault, stole money from the Paper Service account ($226,643), the Dardanelle Virtual Justice account ($9,374), and the Dardanelle Restitution account ($3,965) between January 1, 2023, and March 8, 2024.
"The defrauding of the people of Yell County is unacceptable, and those who choose to do so have no business in government," Yell County Judge Jeff Gilkey said. "The accounts in question were under the exclusive control of the Yell County Sheriff, which is normal across the state, and not peer-reviewed by the County Clerk, County Treasurer, or the County Judge."
Arkansas Legislative Auditor Jimmy Locke conducted an audit, which revealed Gault wrote $9,374 worth of unreceipted checks from the restitution account to the Virtual Justice account in an "attempt to conceal the cash that she stole."
Additionally, Locke's audit showed thefts from the Paper Service account stopped in February 2024.
"Each year, the accounts in question are audited by the State of Arkansas," Gilkey said. "Moving forward, Yell County will, by ordinance, install policies to safeguard against these actions we have never seen before."
The affidavit said Gault admitted during an interview with an investigator that she has authority over collecting payments and deposits for the Dardanelle virtual justice account and the Dardanelle restitution account.
In the interview, she also admitted to taking cash she collected for payments at her office and "using it for personal purchases such as groceries and medication for her daughter."
Arkansas State Police said Gault was arrested on Wednesday after she surrendered at the Yell County Detention Center. She was booked and released on "personal recognizance" by Special Judge Randy Wright.
Gault's plea or arraignment is set for 9 a.m. on Sept. 5 at the Yell County Courthouse in Danville, where a bond will be set for the Class B felony charge.