JONESBORO, Ark. – Former Craighead County Clerk Kade Holliday had his first court appearance since being arrested Tuesday afternoon.

Read more about the investigation here

Holliday walked into court around 1:30 PM Tuesday wearing a black and white prisoner jumpsuit and a face mask. Sheriff Marty Boyd escorted the former clerk.

Chief Deputy Prosecutor Grant Deprow told NEA Report that a $150,000 surety bond was set for Holliday. This allows Holliday to obtain a release through a bail bonds company, usually for 10-percent of the amount ($15,000).

In addition, prosecutors also obtained the following restrictions:

• He must surrender his passport
• He must surrender all firearms
• He must wear an ankle monitor
• He must report to a probation officer (pre-trial) once per week

The prosecution is charging Holliday with 11 counts of Theft of Property, Class B Felony; One count of Theft of Property, a Class C Felony; and one count of Abuse of Office, a Class B Felony. The Class B Felony charges carry potential penalties of between five and 20 years in prison, each. The Class C theft charge carries between three and 10 years imprisonment as punishment.

The following is the probable cause affidavit, as filed in Craighead County court, verbatim:

The undersigned affiant gives the statement of facts recited herein as being true to the best of his or her knowledge and belief and submits such statement of facts in support of probable cause for detention to be considered by the judicial officer conducting the pretrial release inquiry:

On or about January 23, 2020, through June 24, 2020, Jacob Kade Holliday, the elected Craighead County Clerk, made transfers of monies owned by Craighead County to his personal banking accounts in the County of Craighead, City of Jonesboro Arkansas.

Investigation of the missing monies found that on twelve (12) separate occasions, beginning on January 23, 2020, and ending June 24, 2020, Holliday fraudulently obtained $1,579,057.03 in funds belonging to Craighead County. Holliday transferred the funds from a county owned bank account to his personal banking accounts, all of which was intended to deprive Craighead County of the funds. Banking records obtained in this investigation confirmed the money was taken by Holliday and used for his personal benefit.

During this same period Holliday, while in the course of his duties as Craighead County Clerk, committed an unauthorized act which purported to be an act of his office, namely by utilizing his position as County Clerk to access and to transfer to himself county owned funds, in his custody, which were otherwise designated for county payroll tax obligations and retirement contributions, thereby committing the offense of Abuse of Office, the value of the benefit which is greater than $25,000.00. These acts benefitted himself in the approximate amount of $1,579,057.03 and caused a deficit to Craighead County for unpaid payroll taxes and retirement contributions.

Update: Holliday was released on bond at 3:58 PM, jail records show.

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County Judge Responds

The following is a press release sent out by the Craighead County judge’s office:

June 29, 2020

On behalf of the citizens and tax payers of Craighead County, Judge Marvin Day filed a lawsuit against Kade Holliday seeking several possible civil remedies to restore the embezzlement of County Funds.

“We have no tolerance for the abuse of public trust in our County. Mr. Holliday held a position of trust with our citizens and he abused that trust to the fullest extent.
The County is seeking to determine any and all avenues of recovery for the citizens of Craighead County and will prosecute the civil claims to the fullest extent” Judge Marvin Day.

Craighead County is also determined to institute further rules and regulations, far and above what is available in Arkansas Code, to ensure safeguards are in place for protection of our citizens.

Craighead County and all members of the County Clerks’ office want to instill a sense of public trust and ethics.

In anticipation of upcoming elections year, we are ever more dedicated to not only ensure a fair and impartial election, but we have all the safeguards in place to be ready for support of the Election Commission and their varying needs.