JP Barbara Weinstock (District 5) announces retirement after 27 years

Delta Digital News Service

Brayden Morse | Contributor

Monday, April 29, 2024

JONESBORO, Ark. – The Hot Check Program from the Craighead County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney’s office in accordance with ACA 16-21-120(c) presented the 2023 annual report of attorney fees and restitution fees on Feb. 12.

The Hot Check program was terminated in April 2021. Keith Chrestman, former Craighead County prosecuting attorney, terminated the program when realizing few people write checks anymore. It was costing Chrestman more than he was getting out of it. 

Charlene Davidson, Managing Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Craighead County, presented the 2023 annual report. 

“During the 2023 calendar year, our office received $13,011.21 from the Craighead County Sheriff’s Office to be entered as payments received from the defendants in the Hot Check Program,” Davidson said. 

The Craighead County Prosecutor’s Office disbursed $32,991.73 towards victim restitution and $11,813.25 towards merchant fees that defendants were charged for the hot checks. The office also disbursed $8,259.09 in prosecuting attorneys fees. 

The prosecuting attorney fees are entitled to the prosecuting attorneys by statute for managing the Hot Check program. 

Davidson shared that money is still coming in despite termination of the program, when a committee member asked about the money situation and how it works. 

“There is money still coming in. The defendants pleaded guilty and got on a payment plan. Some of them pay and some do not. Sheriff Marty Boyd has been really good about getting their tax refunds. We get money that has been owed for 10-15-20 years. There is still money coming in that needs to go out to the victims. I think money will come in for quite some time,” she said. 

Once a defendant is found guilty of violating the hot check law, they enter a guilty plea. The defendant is ordered to pay restitution. The collection of restitution fees is managed by the Sheriff’s office. 

“Until it is paid in full, it is still owed. It will continue to come in even though we are no longer prosecuting those types of cases,” Davidson said. 

Now that the program does not exist, if someone sees suspicion of a hot check, they will present them to the law enforcement agency for investigation. 

If the law enforcement agency finds probable cause for an arrest, they will forward it to the Craighead County Prosecutor’s Office. 

In other business, Craighead County Judge Marvin Day announced Barbara Weinstock’s retirement after 27 years as Justice of the Peace for District Five at the Craighead County Quorum Court meeting on Monday. 

Weinstock was responsible for $30,549,485 of grants of free money, helping people of Craighead County. The grants were used for mental health courts, veteran’s courts, drug courts, etc. 

Weinstock shared her thoughts on her appreciation of the committee and her time as part of the Justice of the Peace. 

“I’ve learned a lot, I really have. Thank you, it has been a pleasure,” Weinstock said. 

Judge Day said Weinstock would retire Friday but continue to help. He also shared his appreciation of Weinstock and the future of her replacement. 

“We are looking for a replacement. We are excited for her,” Day said. 

Craighead County quorum court will meet again Feb. 26.

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NOTE: Featured photo by Money Knack on Unsplash