10:45 a.m. update:
According to the Hot Springs Police Department, Alisa Michelle (Dickson) Bynum turned herself in Friday morning.
Original article:
The former accountant for a local church sought on a felony warrant since early last year for allegedly stealing almost $70,000 from the church over a period of more than four years is expected to turn herself in today.
Alisa Michelle (Dickson) Bynum, 46, who lists a Benton address, is being sought on a felony charge of theft of property over $25,000, punishable by up to 20 years in prison, for the alleged theft from First Lutheran Church, 105 Village Road, and was featured on the Hot Springs Police Department Facebook page as its "Warrant Wednesday" suspect.
Cpl. Joey Williams, the department's public information officer, told The Sentinel-Record Thursday Bynum had contacted police through her attorney and indicated she planned to turn herself in at 8:30 a.m. today.
"We've had a warrant out for her for a while and have been in communication with the Benton Police Department trying to locate her," Williams said. "We need to get this wrapped up and get justice for the church. Get some restitution for them."
According to police reports, the theft was first reported on Jan. 12, 2018, by a church board member, with the amount stolen estimated at $69,625.88 over an unknown timeline by a known suspect, identified as Bynum.
According to the probable cause affidavit, the church's pastor, Jonathan Beyer, told police that Bynum was employed as the church's accountant between 2013 and 2017 and "tasked with the church's finances."
Beyer said he discovered there were numerous unauthorized charges on the church's credit cards and sent a request to Bynum to produce the church's files and receipts. He said Bynum refused to provide any documents and receipts in her possession and reportedly deleted several Quick-book files on the church's server either remotely or in person.
Beyer said Bynum's employment was terminated and he commissioned a certified public accounting firm to audit the church's finances.
Beyer provided police with the results of the completed audit which indicated there were 397 unauthorized transactions made on Bynum's church issued debit card between July 22, 2013, and Dec. 21, 2017. The total of the unauthorized charges was $38,894.89.
There were also 252 unauthorized transactions made on Bynum's church issued Sam's Club card between Jan. 1, 2013, and Dec. 22, 2017, totaling $30,730.99.
Beyer advised that each of the charges were made without the consent or knowledge of the church and Bynum did not have authority to make the charges. The total loss listed in the affidavit was $69,625.88.
At the completion of the audit and subsequent police investigation, a warrant for Bynum's arrest was issued on March 25, 2019. Williams said numerous efforts were made to locate Bynum and to reach out to her through contacts to no avail.
Local on 01/31/2020