Story updated December 19th with additional details on Johnston’s past legal and financial records.
TEXARKANA, Ark–A former K-9 officer with the Miller County Sheriff’s Office has been charged with theft of property over $5,000 but under $25,000, according to court documents filed Wednesday.
Shane Dustin Johnston, 44, recently spoke to a local television station, saying that he was making an online purchase and the payment method inadvertently defaulted to a county credit card used for canine-related expenses. TXK Today was unable to confirm Johnston’s account through court records.
A press release issued by the Miller County Sheriff’s Office accuses Johnston of making 90 purchases using the county’s credit for non-canine related expenses totaling $9,758.33.
Johnston was booked into the Miller County jail on Monday and released the same day after posting a $15,000 bond, court records show. At a first court appearance Monday, Johnston was scheduled to return to court in January for a status hearing.
Court records show that Johnston was arrested in Miller County in 2018 for fraudulent use of a credit card, $5,000 to $25,000 and for theft of property under $1,000, however, the Miller County Prosecuting Attorney’s office declined to formally charge him.
Last year Johnston was sued by a credit company that purchased a roughly $1,800 debt from the holder of a lease purchase agreement for “vehicle modifications.” Johnston failed to appear at a hearing in the case in April and a default judgment was entered against him for the debt plus attorney fees, court records show.
In December of last year, the Arkansas Dept. of Finance and Administration filed a certificate of indebtedness against Johnston for more than $4,700 owed in individual income tax, records show. A writ of garnishment was sought by the state to recoup the fees from Johnston’s pay as a Miller County deputy. The garnishment was dismissed in August, according to court records that said the debt had been resolved.
Johnston is represented by Texarkana lawyer Shorty Barrett. Barrett declined a request for comment.