Arkansas
Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin: Two Cotton Plant city employees facing theft charges
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin said two Cotton Plant city employees are in the Woodruff County Jail after an investigation by his office.
Griffin said members of his office’s Public Integrity Unit worked with officers of the Augusta Police Department and Woodruff County Sheriff’s deputies to investigate the two employees. As a result of the investigation, 47-year-old Katrina Criswell and 29-year-old Lakeyia Alexander are facing charges of theft of property, a class D felony, and are currently held in the jail, he said.
A release from Griffin’s office said Criswell and Alexander worked for the city’s mayor’s office. In February 2023, while the mayor was out on medical leave, the pair falsified time sheets to show them working more than their allotted 20 hours per week, investigators said.
Officials said that because of the added hours, more than $5,000 in unauthorized wages was paid.
“Those who work in local government hold a special public trust, as they are closest to the people,” Griffin said in a statement. “Both of the accused falsified their time sheets to claim more hours than they were authorized to work, thus increasing their salary without the knowledge and approval of the Mayor of Cotton Plant or the City Council.”
Griffin added that stealing from a city that employs you is an affront to the hardworking taxpayers.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Freshman Darius Acuff Jr. scored a career-high 29 points, including a key 3-pointer with just over two minutes left in the second half, to help No. 18 Arkansas to an 86-75 win over No. 19 Tennessee in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams on Saturday.
Arkansas (11-3) used a 18-5 run over a 6-minute, 37-second span midway through the second half to turn a five-point deficit into an eight-point lead with 5:40 left. Tennessee shot just 2 for 10 from the field during Arkansas’ run, missing eight shots in a row before finally scoring.
The Volunteers (10-4) took advantage of an Arkansas cold shooting spell — the Razorbacks picked up 12 of their 18 points during the run from the free-throw line — to close within two points with under four minutes to play. Acuff made a 3-pointer from the wing with 2:09 remaining to give the Razorbacks a 79-68 lead.
Tennessee shot 49% from the field and was outscored at the line, going 12 for 23 while Arkansas shot 29 for 33.
Acuff was the only Arkansas player to shoot better than 50% from the floor, going 9 for 16. The Razorbacks shot 42% overall. Acuff was joined in double-digit scoring by Meleek Thomas, who scored 18 points. Malique Ewin added 12 points and Karter Knox 11.
Amari Evans’ 17 points on 7-for-7 shooting led three Tennessee players in double figures.
Arkansas won its opening SEC game for the first time since the 2020-21 season. The Razorbacks have reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament in four of the five seasons since and made two Elite Eight appearances.
Arkansas guard Meleek Thomas (1) shoots over Tennessee defenders Ja’Kobi Gillespie, left, and Felix Okpara, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in Fayetteville, Ark. Credit: AP/Michael Woods
Up next
Arkansas: At Ole Miss on Wednesday.
Tennessee: Hosts Texas on Tuesday.
Sheila Yount
Sheila Yount is a features editor for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. An Arkansas native and communications professional with 42 years of experience, she edits and writes for the Style sections with a primary focus on the Saturday home and garden section and the Monday style section, which includes content on outdoor recreation, physical fitness and health, as well as history and other topics.
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