TONTITOWN (KFSM) — A former Tontitown treasurer accused of stealing more than $56,000 from the city pleaded guilty Tuesday (Sept. 8) to theft of services and theft of property, according to the Washington County prosecutor’s office.
Alicia Collins was sentenced to 20 years in prison with 18 of those suspended, which means she will have to serve two years behind bars, the prosecutor’s office said. She was also ordered to pay $58,350 in restitution, according to the prosecutor’s office.
Collins was arrested in February 2015 after investigators found she had been applying credit to her water and sewer bill for years without actually paying for the services, according to police.
Collins also held the bookkeeping position in the city and was fired shortly after her arrest. She resigned from her elected treasurer post last week.
A legislative audit of financial transactions by the city of Tontitown later found that inadequate internal controls contributed to the misappropriation and theft of more than $56,000 from the the city.
