Former Centerton public official pleads guilty, sentenced after stealing more than $60k in 2021

CENTERTON, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — A former head of the Centerton Public Works Department has pleaded guilty and been sentenced on two counts.

Ricky Dale Hudson, 66, of Bella Vista, pleaded guilty to theft and fraudulent use of a credit card for items he stole from the City of Centerton while he was employed there as the head of the Public Works Department.

Hudson will serve five years of state supervised probation. Additionally, Hudson must pay the $62,190.46 he stole to the Benton County Circuit Clerk’s Office within 48 hours of his plea as a condition of his probation, according to court documents. The Clerk’s Office will deliver that restitution to the city of Centerton.

Hudson resigned from his position on Oct. 29, 2021, after he was reported to be intoxicated at work. The next month, Hudson was investigated by Centerton Police for unauthorized purchases using the city’s Amazon Business account.

On November 16, 2021, police visited Hudson’s home in Bella Vista and later obtained a search warrant, finding various city-purchased items in multiple locations. Over ten days, 726 items totaling $62,190.46 in unauthorized purchases were recovered from Hudson’s home.

Unauthorized items included woodworking equipment, a calligraphy stencil kit, a 96″ ceiling fan, a heavy-duty dolly roller, truck bed cover utility box and items for personal vehicles.

According to the police report, Hudson spent $30,155.35 on the city’s Amazon Business account, $27,721.38 on the city’s Visa and Lowe’s credit cards, and $4,313.73 on the city’s AutoZone account, totaling $62,190.46 in unauthorized purchases.

Centerton Mayor Bill Edwards said in a statement after the verdict, “He has made the city whole and we will return the funds to the general operating fund.”

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