A former Columbia parking facilities manager was formally charged after allegedly stealing around $45,000 in coins from the city over the course of nine months, according to a probable cause statement.
James Faup, 39, was arrested in April after allegedly taking coins from a Columbia coin room multiple times and exchanging them for cash at a Coinstar machine at Walmart, according to the statement.
Faup is charged with stealing of $25,000 or more, a class C felony, according to court records. The Boone County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office formally charged Faup last week following his April arrest, and he was arraigned in court on Thursday, according to court records. He pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Columbia Police Department said it received a tip stating someone suspicious was dressed in a Columbia Public Works Department uniform and exchanging a large amount of coins at the Coinstar machine.
Faup allegedly admitted to stealing approximately $1,200 every time he was in the coin room, which was multiple times a month since at least June 2025, according to the probable cause statement.
Faup was convicted of stealing in 2013, when he stole money from University of Missouri parking enforcement while an employee there, according to the probable cause statement.