YELLVILLE — Marion County Sheriff Gregg Alexander reported last week that investigators arrested 52 year-old Dana E. Scott of Branson, Misouri, on one count of failure to pay or file tax returns and two counts of tampering with public records. Both charges are Class "D" felonies. Scott was arrested after investigators were made aware of alleged bookkeeping discrepancies at the Marion County Library.
According to the affidavit for the arrest warrant, investigation into Scott began last year. In September 2023, Alesia Owen — a Marion County Library board member, filed a complaint with the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney and advised that she believed that she had discovered something odd about the financials in the library’s system and that an investigation might be needed.
With the assistance of the Marion County Sheriffs Office and other county officials, documentation was obtained that Scott — the Marion County Library System director, had "not followed certain laws involving county funds on numerous occasions, and attempted to cover up these discrepancies."
According to records received from the library, on more than one occasion items were ordered that were to be sold in the library and paid for with a Marion County business credit card, but no itemized receipts were attached. On one occasion, Scott ordered items from Walmart, but had them shipped to her residence in Missouri, claims the affidavit.
The affidavit reports that the records also showed that Scott had sold nearly $5,000 worth of merchandise from the library without collecting sales tax or turning in proper taxes to the State of Arkansas.
Scott was arrested by Marion County investigators on Monday, Dec. 2, and booked into the Marion County Detention Center in lieu of a $1,500 bond. Scott then posted bond and was subsequently released.
Scott's hearing for plea and arraignment is scheduled to take place on Dec. 18 in Marion County Circuit Court.
