Cheryl Delarosa Pleads Guilty to Theft of Property and Abuse of Office

Former Water Clerk Admits to Embezzling $501,193.00 from City of Dierks

In 2019, shortly after taking office as Mayor of Dierks, Ronnie Cogburn discovered that the City of Dierks Water Department had not been audited since 2014. Mayor Cogburn also noticed that money appeared to be missing from the water department funds. He instructed Cheryl Delarosa, the city water clerk, to provide documents to the city’s accounting firm. Once the auditor confirmed to the mayor that money was missing, Mayor Cogburn contacted the local prosecuting attorney’s office and the Arkansas Legislative Audit (ALA).

The ALA’s audit encompassed the time period from January 1, 2015, through September 30, 2020. After an extensive investigation, the ALA concluded that receipts exceeded the deposits for cash by the following totals:

2015: $87,541.00

2016: $93,512.00

2017: $111,938.00

2018: $97,166.00

2019: $76,774.00

2020: $34,262.00

TOTAL: $501,193.00

Delarosa was the custodian of the water department funds and was responsible for making bank deposits. On January 25, 2021, Delarosa resigned.

On August 4, 2021, a warrant was issued for Delarosa’s arrest, and on September 28, 2021, the State of Arkansas filed formal charges against Delarosa for Theft of Property and Abuse of Office.

On Monday, June 5, 2023, the Dierks City Council unanimously rejected a proposed plea agreement presented to them by 9′ West Judicial District

Prosecuting Attorney Jana Bradford.

On Monday, June 12, 2023, Bradford’s office spoke individually with each member of the city council and the mayor and sought approval of a new plea agreement, which included the following:

• Delarosa plead guilty to Theft of Property and Abuse of Office, both
• Class B felonies;
• Delarosa admitted to embezzling $501,193.00;
• Delarosa agrees to repay the City of Dierks a lump sum payment of $164,000 by August 9, 2023;
• Delarosa agrees to forfeit her city retirement;
• Delarosa agrees to be sentenced to six (6) years in the Arkansas
• Department of Corrections with an additional twenty (20) years of supervised release;
• Delarosa will be formally sentenced on August 9, 2023. If she does not pay the $164,000 lump sum by August 9, 2023, Delarosa agrees that the Court could sentence her to the maximum punishment in the Arkansas Department of Corrections. Until formal sentencing, Delarosa will be required to wear an ankle monitor; and
• Delarosa agrees to repay the remaining $337,000 upon her release from prison.

Mayor Cogburn said “After four years and many continuances, we are happy this matter is behind us. Receiving $164,000 upfront is best for the citizens of Dierks. We are thankful to the prosecuting attorney’s office for continuing to work over the last week to get a deal that better benefitted the City of Dierks.”

The new plea agreement included a larger lump sum payment, forfeiture of city retirement, and an agreement to repay the entire $501,193.00upon release from prison – which amounts to an additional $200,000 repayment from the original plea agreement rejected on June 5, 2023.

Jana Bradford said “I am glad to be able to seek justice for the City of Dierks. The city will get their money repaid, and Mrs. Delarosa is going to prison.”