Two former Conway School District maintenance employees face felony theft charges after an Arkansas State Police investigation into the alleged misuse of public resources.
According to a news release from the Arkansas State Police, Criminal Investigation Division special agents arrested Bruce Harrell, 56, a former maintenance supervisor, and Justin Turney, 55, a former department employee, on Tuesday, September 1. Both were booked into the Faulkner County Detention Center and held on three felony theft-of-property charges with bond set at $1,500.
Authorities said the investigation began on September 24, 2025, at the request of the 20th Judicial District prosecutor. The inquiry revealed that Harrell had allowed maintenance department employees to use district tools and supplies for personal projects, and he also used them for his own purposes, according to investigators.
Further scrutiny uncovered that Turney had replaced the engine of a vehicle belonging to one of Harrell’s family members using maintenance department resources.
An Arkansas Legislative Audit also identified suspicious and unauthorized expenditures within the district’s maintenance department. Among these were $27,359 in unauthorized general purchases, $3,400 spent on automotive parts, and $1,682 used to buy paint for personal use.
Harrell and Turney’s arrests come as state authorities continue to scrutinize public agencies for financial accountability and ethical compliance.