Man sentenced for stealing

BENTONVILLE -- A Bella Vista man was sentenced to a year in prison for stealing $73,000 from his employer.

William Chase Worley, 28, pleaded guilty Thursday to theft of property, a Class B felony punishable with a prison sentence ranging from five to 20 years.

The plea came under an agreement attorney Shane Wilkinson reached with Elizabeth Castleman, deputy prosecutor.

Worley was arrested Feb. 15, 2013.

Worley was the manager of Pawn USA in Bentonville. Louis Hudgins and Gene Hudgins, the shop owners, reported to police in October 2012 an employee was stealing from their Bentonville location, according to court documents.

Louis Hudgins said he was checking paperwork while Worley had a day off when he noticed discrepancies in money amounts from previous days and also dating back months, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Louis Hudgins discovered $100 to $500 was missing and realized Worley had been stealing from the business.

Louis Hudgins reported he fired Worley on Oct. 29, 2012, and Worley admitted to stealing the money.

Hudgins recorded their conversation, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Worley told police he planned to pay the money back, according to court documents.

Worley was placed on state-supervised probation for 10 years.

He must also must serve 365 days in a regional punishment facility.

He must pay $1,420 in court costs and $72,961 in victim restitution.

Editorial on 12/17/2014