Paragould Woman Accused of Submitting Forged Community Service Records

PARAGOULD, Ark. — A Paragould woman is accused of submitting forged community service records claiming she completed 11½ hours of work toward overdue supervision fees, according to an affidavit filed in Greene County District Court.

Kathy Newman is accused of second-degree forgery, a Class C felony, after an Arkansas Probation and Parole agent questioned two handwritten notes submitted on her behalf Oct. 13.

Handwritten Notes Prompted Questions

The Paragould Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit was contacted Oct. 13 by an agent who said Newman, a parolee, had been directed to complete community service to pay delinquent supervision fees, according to the affidavit by Detective Cpl. Tron Beesley.

The agent told police Newman sent a text message saying someone would bring her community service sheets to the office. Two handwritten notes were delivered around 1:10 p.m., the affidavit states.

The notes claimed Newman completed six hours of community service Oct. 8 and another 5½ hours Oct. 12. Both bore the name “Jenny Lyons” as the signature, according to the affidavit.

The agent contacted Mission Outreach to verify the notes because the organization typically did not handwrite its community service documentation, police said.

The agent was told the notes and hours were not believed to be legitimate because Lyons had not been at Mission Outreach on Oct. 12, according to the affidavit.

When the agent contacted Newman about the documents, she acknowledged knowing they were forged but said it was not her idea, the affidavit alleges.

Judge Curtis Hitt signed a probable cause finding Oct. 14 directing that an arrest warrant be issued. An accompanying order set Newman’s bond at $15,000 surety or another form acceptable to the Greene County sheriff.

The order also requires Newman to live a law-abiding life as a condition of release.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.