HOT SPRING, Ark. — An Arkansas sheriff appeared in court on Friday, Nov. 3 after the FBI said he interfered with an active drug investigation.
Officials with the Western District of Arkansas say that 46-year-old Derek Scott Finkbeiner, who is the Hot Spring County Sheriff, was arrested by the FBI on Nov. 2.
He is being charged in a criminal complaint with a single count of obstruction of justice. If convicted, he will face a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison.
Finkbeiner has also been accused of coercing an informant to do meth as well as perform sexual acts on him, according to an affidavit.
That document alleges that Finkbeiner misled federal investigators and warned a drug dealer, which then led to him being charged with obstruction of justice. Finkbeiner is also accused of using meth while in uniform, according to the affidavit.
The sheriff was released after the hearing on a $5,000 bond with certain stipulations such as not leaving that area of the state, not having a gun, and not being able to interact with witnesses.
Finkbeiner has not resigned as sheriff at this time.
A grand jury will later listen to the case's evidence and determine whether additional criminal charges will be filed against Finkbeiner. A federal district court judge will then determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
We will update this article with more information as it becomes available.
