Hot Spring County Sheriff Scott Finkbeiner pleaded guilty on Friday to misleading the FBI in connection to drugs and sex, announcing his intention to resign from his position. The sheriff had held office since 2023 and will face a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both, along with supervised release.
Released pending his sentencing, Finkbeiner’s defense attorney stated that all other federal charges against the sheriff have been dropped as part of the plea agreement. The 47-year-old Republican admitted to falsifying information during an FBI investigation involving Kenneth Wayne Smith’s drug activities.
Smith, who has pleaded guilty to distributing methamphetamine, awaits sentencing. Finkbeiner had previously attempted to pass Smith off as a confidential informant and admitted to engaging in criminal activities with him, such as using meth and crack cocaine at Smith’s residence.
Finkbeiner had been under investigation since November 2023 and was arrested on state charges in April 2024. The sheriff was also facing federal charges for tampering with a witness, obstructing justice, and being an unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm.
While Finkbeiner had been free under certain conditions, he was recently arrested for witness tampering. He had been held in the Saline County jail until his release following the guilty plea. His attorney noted that a resolution is pending for the state charges, and Finkbeiner plans to resign once the necessary paperwork is completed.
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