Jonesboro, AR – JonesboroRightNow.com – A former employee of a local Jonesboro business is facing a felony theft charge after allegedly pocketing over $19,000 mistakenly paid out during a payroll glitch last spring.
According to the probable cause affidavit, the employee typically earned $16.50 an hour. However, on May 10, 2025, a payroll system error inflated their wages to $1,650 for a single 12-hour shift. This error resulted in a total overpayment of $19,388.
When the company discovered the mistake, the employee allegedly refused to return the funds. On Aug. 12, 2025, the CEO of the business reported the theft to the Jonesboro Police Department, providing financial documents and emails to support their claim.
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A detective subsequently contacted the employee by phone. While the suspect initially agreed to come in for questioning to discuss the matter, they failed to appear, and a bench warrant was issued on Aug. 18, 2025.
On Monday, April 6, police were notified that the employee had been taken into custody on the outstanding warrant. During a court appearance later that same day, District Judge David Boling found probable cause to charge the individual with a class C felony: theft of property greater than $5,000 but less than $25,000.
The former employee is currently being held on a $15,000 cash/surety bond and is scheduled for their next court appearance on May 18. If convicted, they face up to 10 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines.
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