BENTONVILLE — Kimberly Scott resigned her position Tuesday as Benton County Coroner after
apparently entering into an agreement to plead guilty to misdemeanor and felony charges.
Scott, 43, is charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance, a class C felony; obtaining a controlled substance under false pretenses or by theft, a class C felony; and falsifying business records and possession of a controlled or counterfeit substance, both class A misdemeanors.
Scott was arrested Aug. 18, 2006, after deputies searched her home where, according to an evidence recovery log, deputies found 73 pills — a variety of pain relievers, antidepressants and antihistamines. The prescription medications were allegedly seized from death scenes. Scott is accused of taking the medications from the Coroner’s Office for her personal use.
Benton County Prosecuting Attorney Van Stone released a press release Tuesday morning with news of Scott’s resignation.
According to the press release, Scott’s attorney, John Everett, authorized the Prosecutor’s Office to state that Scott’s resignation is part of a negotiated plea agreement reached in the criminal case.
Everett declined to comment on Scott’s resignation.
The plea agreement will be heard Tuesday, when Scott’s jury trial had been scheduled, by Circuit Judge Tom Keith.
Stone said he could not comment on specifics of the plea agreement until after the hearing.
Stone said he wanted Scott to resign well in advance of her trial date.
Scott’s resignation was effective as of 5 p. m. Tuesday, according to her resignation letter.
Benton County Judge Gary Black said he would not comment on the case until after Scott’s plea hearing.
Scott went to Black’s office Tuesday and turned in her resignation and the countyowned property issued to her, Black said. He said the locks to the Benton County Coroner’s Office had been changed.
Benton County Attorney Robin Green said the Quorum Court must run a vacancy notice in the newspaper before members of the Benton County Quorum Court declare a vacancy and appoint someone to serve the remainder of Scott’s term.
The vacancy notice is on Page 2 of today’s Benton County Daily Record.
The Quorum Court will meet at 5 p. m. today to appoint Scott’s successor.
Chief Deputy Coroner Daniel Oxford is one of six people who have expressed interest in the coroner’s position. Oxford, former Rogers Fire Chief Wesley Lewis, former coroner candidate Richard Boles, Dalen Goff, Rebecca Glidden, Jerome Jung and Tom Edwards have all submitted letters expressing their interest in the coroner’s position.
Green said she advised all people interested in the position to attend the special meeting.
Stone said he feels that law enforcement is confident they will be able to work with whomever the Quorum Court chooses.
After her arrest, Scott refused to resign her position. She released a letter proclaiming her innocence.
“ I would do nothing to bring shame or disgrace to Benton County, ” Scott stated in the letter dated Aug. 21, 2006. “ I will not be resigning my office because I am not guilty. ”
Scott was elected to her first term in June 2004.
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