Laurie Lynn Denham, 57, has been charged in the Circuit Court of Sebastian County.
Arkansas, with Theft of Property, Class “B” Felony. On November 23, 2022, the Affidavit
for Warrant of Arrest was presented to the Honorable Stephen Tabor who found that probable cause existed for the arrest. Bond was set at $3,500 legally sufficient at that time.
A redacted copy of the file-marked Information and Affidavit for Warrant of Arrest are attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference. Ms. Denham will be arraigned on these charges on December 7, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. In addition, the investigation by the Arkansas State Police, the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, and other law enforcement agencies is ongoing with regard to this criminal offense.
Lastly, pursuant to the Arkansas Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 3.6, the charges filed against Laurie Lynn Denham are merely accusations, and Laurie Lynn Denham is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
According to a statement by the prosecutor, Denham Committed as follows: Count # 1 Offense Theft of Property >$25k The defendant on or between the 1st day of January, 2018 and the gun day of August, 2022 (date), in Sebastian County, Arkansas did unlawfully and feloniously knowingly take or exercise unauthorized control over or make an unauthorized transfer of an interest in the property of City of Bonanza with the purpose of depriving the owner of the property, and the value of the property is twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) or more
Against the peace and dignity of the State of Arkansas.
On Friday, December 2, Bonanza Mayor Elmer Nelson, Denham’s father, fielded questions from legislators after a state audit indicated the city’s administrative assistant (Denham) took thousands of dollars from the city just a couple of years after pleading guilty to stealing from the city while serving in the same role.
Photo courtesy of Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office
