BENTON COUNTY (KFSM) -- The Benton County sheriff will hold a media conference Friday (Nov. 6) to address an Arkansas State Police investigation and his campaign for re-election.
Sheriff Kelley Cradduck's campaign announced he'll be holding the conference after a search and seizure warrant was issued Thursday (Nov. 5), allowing ASP to seize seven drawers of files from the Benton County Sheriff's Office.
The search came the same day Cradduck announced he will be seeking re-election for a third term.
The search and seizure warrant, signed by Benton County Circuit Judge Brad Karren, states Cradduck is accused of instructing Benton County Sheriff's Office Executive Assistant Dianna Goodwin to backdate a new hire's employment documents from Oct. 7 to Sept. 28.
Investigators seized four drawers of files from Goodwin and three drawers of files from Cradduck, according to the warrant.
5NEWS spoke with Cradduck in an exclusive interview. Cradduck dismissed the accusations, and said they were all made to impact his chances at re-election.
"It is dirty politics," Cradduck said. "I will just let the chips fall where they may, with that. I am a law man. I have cooperated with everything. I have nothing to hide."
Cradduck said he felt others running for sheriff were using the investigations to boost their campaigns.
"It is a very tactical move on their part. With the timing of dirty politics, and them trying to get me not to run again," Cradduck said. "This was expected. I didn't expect for these other candidates not to attack me."
For a copy of the warrant, click here.
Friday's conference will be held at Cradduck's attorney's office at 10 a.m. to go over the investigation and the future of his campaign and his term as sheriff, according to his campaign.
Last week, Benton County Prosecuting Attorney Nathan Smith confirmed ASP was investigating the sheriff. A special prosecutor was appointed Monday to handle the investigation.
Last week two Benton County Sheriff’s Office employees filed grievances accusing the sheriff of demoting them because they reported him to ASP and cooperated with the agency’s investigation into what they deemed to be “illegal and unethical actions” made by Cradduck.