By Martin Couch
A legislative audit of the city of Bryant's 2010 finances has been referred to the[more] Saline County Prosecutor, Ken Cassady.
The audit came about when Bryant mayor Jill Dabbs requested it after questioning the amount of goods and services received by the city in 2010. It has been announced that retribution will come to the city after being defrauded.
Dewayne Barnes has been accused of theft of property after being accused of defrauding the city of $40,000. His trial date was to be on Dec. 5, but was pushed back to March 26 and 27, 2013. Barnes has multiple warrants in other Arkansas counties like Sebastian, Faulkner and Pope. He was arrested on April 13.
Barnes was contracted by the city in 2010 for purchases, installation and training on a new IP phone system connecting all city offices.
"It was apparent that the city had purchased a new phone system, however the phones were not operational and were only sitting on the desks," Dabbs told BryantDaily.com when the investigation began. The phones had not been installed.
Dabbs ordered the IT audit for items never received and work not completed. The total amount paid to Barnes by the city for work that never was performed and products never received was exactly $49,198.
