February 27, 2026

YELLVILLE, Ark. — On Friday, February 27, 2026, Special Agents of the Arkansas State Police (ASP) Criminal Investigation Division (CID) arrested Boone County Judge Robert Daniel Hathaway, 68, on one felony count of Abuse of Office and one misdemeanor count of Reporting by Public Employee for Loss of Public Funds.

On August 29, 2025, Fourteenth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney David Ethredge requested ASP CID to investigate allegations of stolen funds from Boone County government accounts. In September 2025, at the request of ASP, Prosecutor Ethredge arranged for the Arkansas Legislative Audit to conduct a financial review of Boone County accounts.

The audit determined that a Boone County employee had stolen funds from multiple Boone County government accounts and related entities. Further investigation found that Judge Hathaway was aware of the misuse of the government county card, which exceeded $1,000 within a calendar year, but failed to report the loss to the Arkansas Legislative Audit as 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.

Hathaway’s arrest follows the February 18, 2026, arrest of April Dawn Benefiel, 44, on a Class D felony of Tampering with Physical Evidence and a Class C felony of Hindering Prosecution.

Benefiel is the former program director for Grandma’s House Children’s Advocacy Center in Harrison. Her charges stem from a large Boone County public corruption case involving Daniel Bolen, 46, former director of Boone County Office of Emergency Management.

Bolen was arrested by ASP 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.