JONESBORO, Ark. — A former employee accused of keeping nearly $19,400 she received because of a payroll error pleaded guilty Oct. 28 and was placed on three years of supervised probation, according to court records.
Rene Nichole Coleman, 50, entered a negotiated guilty plea to theft of property greater than $5,000 but less than $25,000, a Class C felony. Circuit Judge Scott Ellington ordered her to pay $19,602 in restitution.
The court deferred further proceedings without entering a finding of guilt. The probation order provides for discharge without an adjudication of guilt, dismissal of the case and sealing of the record upon fulfillment of the probation conditions or early release by the court, subject to applicable record-sealing procedures.
A special condition states that prosecutors will not object to early discharge from probation if Coleman pays back the restitution.
The case stemmed from a theft report submitted to Jonesboro police on Aug. 12, 2025. According to the probable cause affidavit previously reported by NEA Report, a local business’s CEO told police a payroll error had caused Coleman to receive an excessive payment.
Coleman normally earned $16.50 per hour, but the prior payroll system mistakenly calculated her pay at $1,650 per hour for a 12-hour shift on May 10, 2025, the affidavit states.
The affidavit listed the resulting overpayment as $19,388. The court’s restitution order lists $19,602. The sentencing documents do not explain the difference.
The CEO told investigators Coleman refused to return the money after the error was discovered and provided financial documents and emails supporting the complaint, according to the affidavit.
A detective later contacted Coleman by phone. She agreed to speak with investigators but did not appear, the affidavit states. Investigators were notified April 6, 2026, that she was in custody on a warrant obtained in August 2025.
In addition to restitution, the probation order lists a $200 fine and $690 in court costs and other fees. It sets monthly payments of $50 toward the court-ordered financial obligations beginning Feb. 1, 2027, along with a $10 monthly payment-plan fee. Coleman must also pay a $35 monthly probation supervision fee.
All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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