A former Horseshoe Bend official has been sentenced to six years probation and fined $1,500 for fraudulent use of a municipal credit card. (Photo Illustration by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
A former Horseshoe Bend city employee and city council member has pleaded guilty to three felony counts in connection with his use of a municipal credit card, Attorney General Tim Griffin announced Wednesday.
Josh Jackson, 41, entered a negotiated plea in Izard County Circuit Court on Oct. 22 to theft of property greater than $25,000, a Class B felony; forgery, a Class C felony; and fraudulent use of a credit card, a Class D felony. He was sentenced to six years of probation, a $1,500 fine, and is required to pay restitution of $30,112 within 30 days, according to a press release from Griffin’s office.
Jackson was a Horseshoe Bend Municipal Recreation Improvement District at the time of his arrest last November and a former member of the Horseshoe Bend City Council.
The fraudulent use of the district’s credit card occurred while he was on the council but was unrelated to his elected position, according to Griffin’s office.
“I am grateful for the diligent work of Special Agent Steve Moore of my office’s Public Integrity Unit that led to an arrest and conviction in this case,” Griffin said in the press release. “I also thank 16th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Drew Smith for his office’s efforts.”
“Public officials are obligated to act in the public’s interest,” he added.