Ex-officer pleads innocent to theft
Posted on Thursday, July 3, 2008
FORT SMITH — A former police detective pleaded innocent to a charge he stole money from a Fraternal Order of Police bank account.
An attorney for Tom Judkins, 53, waived arraignment in Sebastian County Circuit Court and entered an innocent plea for Judkins to a charge of theft by deception.
No trial date has been set in the case.
Judkins, treasurer for the local FOP chapter, was charged last week after investigators found evidence that he made more than $ 12, 000 in unauthorized purchases between Jan. 10, 2007, and May 19 using the organization’s debit card.
Investigators say Judkins, a police officer since 1991, bought jewelry with the card and also paid for travel and lodging for police conferences but pocketed the reimbursement checks rather than deposit them into the order’s account.
He was freed on bond after being arrested last week.
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