Arkanas Judge arrested on abuse of office charges

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Arkansas State Police announced the arrest of the Boone County Judge on Friday.

Officials stated that 68-year-old Daniel Hathaway was charged with one felony count of abuse of office and one misdemeanor count of reporting by a public employee for loss of public funds.

ASP stated that on August 29, 2025, its Criminal Investigation Division was requested by Fourteenth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney David Ethredge to investigate allegations of stolen funds from Boone County government accounts.

In September 2025, ASP requested Prosecutor Ethredge arrange for the Arkansas Legislative Audit to conduct a financial review of Boone County accounts.

The audit revealed that a Boone County employee stole funds from multiple Boone County government accounts and related entities.

Authorities also found that Judge Hathaway was aware of the misuse of the government county card, exceeding $1,000 within the year, but failed to report the loss to the Arkansas Legislative Audit, which is required by state law.

Following the investigation, CID Special Agents obtained warrants for Judge Hathaway’s arrest. He was taken into custody and booked into the Marion County Detention Center.

Officials state that Hathaway’s arrest follows the arrest of 44-year-old April Dawn Benefie, the former program director for Grandma’s House Children’s Advocacy Center in Harrison on February 18, 2026. 

She was charged with a Class D felony of tampering with physical evidence and a Class C felony of hindering prosecution.

Her charges stem from a large Boone County public corruption case involving 46-year-old Daniel Bolen, former director of the Boone County Office of Emergency Management.

ASP stated that Bolen was arrested on February 13, 2026, on several charges, including Abuse of Office, Theft of $25,000 or More, Tampering with Physical Evidence, and Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card.