A federal judge has issued a ruling requiring Hot Spring County Sheriff Scott Finkbeiner of southwest Arkansas to step down from all law enforcement responsibilities and to stay away from the sheriff’s office. The order, handed down by U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Bryant, limits Finkbeiner’s authority to overseeing payroll. Finkbeiner was indicted on November 15 on charges of obstruction of justice and concealing a crime, following his initial arrest on November 2.
According to the indictment and a previously sworn statement from an FBI agent, Finkbeiner allegedly attempted to persuade federal agents to halt their investigation into a drug dealer who had supplied him with methamphetamine. Finkbeiner has pleaded not guilty to the charges. In a Facebook post on November 6, he vehemently denied any wrongdoing and expressed gratitude for the support he has received. Finkbeiner’s decision to relinquish his duties as sheriff may have helped him avoid potential pre-trial imprisonment efforts by federal prosecutors. He is currently out on $5,000 bail.
Prosecutors revealed in a court filing that Finkbeiner had made statements indicating his intention to fire or lay off potential witnesses employed by the sheriff’s department. He also allegedly requested two elected constables to investigate the case on his behalf, potentially constituting witness intimidation. Furthermore, Finkbeiner allegedly claimed that he would release a jail inmate if the inmate provided information about his own case. Prosecutors also noted that Finkbeiner complained to both Malvern police officers and state prosecutors that the FBI was interfering in his own investigation, even threatening to arrest FBI agents.
Federal agents have disclosed that audio recordings made by a confidential informant captured Finkbeiner arriving at a Perla residence after 2 a.m. on May 21, smoking methamphetamine, and repeatedly soliciting the informant for sexual favors. Agents claim that Finkbeiner discovered a surveillance camera outside the house and subsequently contacted them on August 21, asserting that the alleged drug dealer they were investigating was actually an informant involved in a theft of government funds inquiry and a drug-related arrest.
The judge’s order, which compels Finkbeiner to surrender his sheriff duties, appears to have thwarted the prosecution’s efforts to have him incarcerated prior to the trial. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette initially reported on the order. Finkbeiner’s case serves as another example of law enforcement officials facing serious allegations and the challenges of maintaining integrity within the criminal justice system.
