Texarkana woman taken into custody after pleading not guilty to embezzlement

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A Texarkana woman’s bond was revoked at the end of a hearing before a Bowie County judge Wednesday because of two subsequent arrests.

Latisha Jenkins McMurry, 33, appeared with attorney Michael Friedman of Texarkana for arraignment before 102nd District Judge Bobby Lockhart. McMurry pleaded not guilty to stealing more than $70,000 from her former employer, Texarkana Parts and Logistics. McMurry allegedly made personal purchases with business funds to a Bancorp South account while working in purchasing, accounting and office management between July 2014 and February 2016, according to a probable cause affidavit.

McMurry’s employer noticed a shortage in the company’s Bancorp South account and asked McMurry for copies of banking records. The records McMurry provided to her employer were allegedly altered to conceal multiple recurring charges to Capital One, Nissan Finance, Verizon, AT&T, Barclays, Richardson Waste, Southwest Electrical Coop and Dish Network. The records were changed to make it appear the missing money had gone to actual business expenses rather than to McMurry’s financial benefit.

McMurry’s supervisor acquired the account records directly from the bank and compared them to the ones McMurry provided. Texarkana Parks and Logistics alerted Texarkana, Texas, police to the alleged theft telling officials McMurry was the “one person” who had primary use of the company debit card during the time the account came up short by $74,198.10.

McMurry allegedly confessed to embezzling from Texarkana Parts and Logistics during an interview with Texarkana, Texas, detectives in March 2016. If convicted, McMurry faces two to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

Lockhart did not allow McMurry to remain on a $20,000 bond set for her after her arrest in 2016. Citing a November 2016 arrest for drug possession in Miller County, Ark., and a recent arrest for felony theft under $2,500 with prior convictions recently in Bowie County, Lockhart ordered the bond revoked and that McMurry be held in the county jail without bail.

McMurry declared in court that she is “not guilty of that theft,” referring to the newer allegations in Bowie County and added she believes there is video which will confirm her claim of innocence.

According to records in Miller County, McMurry was arrested after a traffic stop on the afternoon of Nov. 30, 2016, by Miller County sheriff’s deputies. McMurry was allegedly driving a Honda Accord with expired tags on a suspended driver’s license. When her car was searched, officers discovered syringes, pills, digital scales and methamphetamine. She faces up to six years in prison on the drug charge in Miller County and six months to two years in a state jail if convicted of theft under $2,500 with prior convictions.

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