Ex-Office Employee For Sheriff Arraigned

Times Record, Fort Smith, Ark., STATE AND REGIONAL NEWS
BYLINE: Mary L. Crider, Times Record, Fort Smith, Ark.

LeFlore County, AR

May 8 -- A formal arraignment order was filed in LeFlore District Court Thursday for Michael Duane Alexander, 56, of Poteau, a former office manager for the LeFlore County Sheriff's Office who is charged with embezzlement by an officer and grand larceny.

Alexander is accused of embezzling $3,075 from the Sheriff's Office. The money had been collected on outstanding tax warrants from 11 people. The warrants allegedly were never recorded in the LeFlore County Treasurer's Office.

Alexander waived a preliminary hearing, according to court records. He is scheduled to appear in court for an 11 a.m. June 16 plea disposition docket.

Alexander was arrested Sept. 16 on suspicion of having taken more than $7,000 from the Sheriff's Office evidence room, Jessica Brown, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation director, said then.

According to court records, the grand larceny charge was filed Sept. 21, and the embezzlement by a public officer charge was filed on April 20.

Alexander was released on $10,000 bond on Sept. 21, court records state.

Sheriff Bruce Curnutt had discovered the money missing in September and called OSBI, an outside agency, to investigate, he has said.

Alexander had worked for the county in various positions, including jail lieutenant, for 10 years under three sheriffs. For safety reasons, he was held in the Sequoyah County jail following his arrest.

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