California Sunshine
08-12-2005, 12:05 PM
http://www.bentoncourier.com/articles/2005/08/11/news/94onews.txt
Julia Early Jones of Alexander, a former bookkeeper for the Arkansas Department of Correction, was convicted Wednesday of stealing money from inmates at the work release center in Benton.
Jones, 53, pleaded guilty in Saline County Circuit Court. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with 10 years suspended.
Jones also was ordered to pay $25,000 in restitution for engaging in a criminal enterprise and theft of property while employed as a bookkeeper for the work release center.
Prosecuting Attorney Robert Herzfeld said Jones engaged in a scheme where she forged numerous checks drawn on inmate accounts to her two sisters, Rose Mary Warren, 71, and Brenda Ester, 48. Herzfeld said Warren and Ester cashed the checks and divided the money with Jones.
Charges are pending against the sisters, Herzfeld said.
Inmates in the work release center earn income during the day at local businesses and return to lockup on nights and weekends, Herzfeld said. Employers send the inmates' paychecks to the Department of Correction, which pays for the inmates' incarceration. Inmates receive some of the funds as well.
Engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise is a class A felony punishable by 6-30 years in prison. Theft of property is a class B felony punishable by 5-20 years in prison.
Jones will have to pay $10,000 of her restitution before Sept. 6. The remaining $15,000 is due after she is released from prison, Herzfeld said, but before her suspended sentence is completed in 2025.
The restitution will be paid to the Department of Correction, which has already reimbursed the prisoners for their stolen money, Herzfeld said.
"To go from working in a prison to living there is a serious reversal of fortune," Herzfeld said, adding, "Stealing from inmates is both outrageous and ridiculous. I hope this case, along with our other numerous convictions of public officials in the past three years, will send the strong message that people who embezzle money from the government always get caught, and in Saline County they face severe punishment."
Herzfeld's office has convicted several public officials since 2002, including two city court clerks, a police chief, a police officer, three sheriff's jailers and a constable.
Julia Early Jones of Alexander, a former bookkeeper for the Arkansas Department of Correction, was convicted Wednesday of stealing money from inmates at the work release center in Benton.
Jones, 53, pleaded guilty in Saline County Circuit Court. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with 10 years suspended.
Jones also was ordered to pay $25,000 in restitution for engaging in a criminal enterprise and theft of property while employed as a bookkeeper for the work release center.
Prosecuting Attorney Robert Herzfeld said Jones engaged in a scheme where she forged numerous checks drawn on inmate accounts to her two sisters, Rose Mary Warren, 71, and Brenda Ester, 48. Herzfeld said Warren and Ester cashed the checks and divided the money with Jones.
Charges are pending against the sisters, Herzfeld said.
Inmates in the work release center earn income during the day at local businesses and return to lockup on nights and weekends, Herzfeld said. Employers send the inmates' paychecks to the Department of Correction, which pays for the inmates' incarceration. Inmates receive some of the funds as well.
Engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise is a class A felony punishable by 6-30 years in prison. Theft of property is a class B felony punishable by 5-20 years in prison.
Jones will have to pay $10,000 of her restitution before Sept. 6. The remaining $15,000 is due after she is released from prison, Herzfeld said, but before her suspended sentence is completed in 2025.
The restitution will be paid to the Department of Correction, which has already reimbursed the prisoners for their stolen money, Herzfeld said.
"To go from working in a prison to living there is a serious reversal of fortune," Herzfeld said, adding, "Stealing from inmates is both outrageous and ridiculous. I hope this case, along with our other numerous convictions of public officials in the past three years, will send the strong message that people who embezzle money from the government always get caught, and in Saline County they face severe punishment."
Herzfeld's office has convicted several public officials since 2002, including two city court clerks, a police chief, a police officer, three sheriff's jailers and a constable.