Robert Hathaway Removed

Boone County Judge Robert Hathaway was arrested on a felony charge of Abuse of Office and a misdemeanor charge of Reporting by Public Employee for Loss of Public Funds, after investigators determined he knew a subordinate employee, Daniel Bolen — director of the county's Office of Emergency Management — was misusing a county-issued credit card in excess of $1,000 in a calendar year, and failed to report it to Arkansas Legislative Audit as state law required.

An audit found Bolen had separately drained more than $50,000 from two nonprofit organizations, the Boone County Sheriff's Office Reserve Deputy Association and Search and Rescue Association, while serving as treasurer of both. Hathaway, who was already set to conclude a 12-year tenure at the end of the year, resigned after being charged.