Former Boone County Judge Hathaway Requests Court Delay

Former Boone County Judge Robert Hathaway is seeking to postpone his upcoming court appearance. His attorney, D. Clifford Sward, filed a motion for continuance on Tuesday morning, requesting that Hathaway be excused from his scheduled date on July 27.

Hathaway is currently facing two charges: a felony count of abuse of public trust and a misdemeanor count of reporting by a public employee. These charges stem from allegations that Hathaway failed to notify the Arkansas Legislative Audit about the misuse of county funds.

The investigation revealed that Daniel Bolen, a former county employee, had been using county credit cards to make personal purchases. While Bolen attempted to cover the unauthorized spending by reimbursing the county with personal checks, the activity was eventually discovered when one of those checks bounced. Hathaway is accused of knowing about this misconduct but failing to report it.

According to the motion filed by Sward, the request for a delay is based on the fact that Hathaway is currently in negotiations with the State. The defense hopes to resolve the legal matter through these discussions, potentially avoiding the need for a full trial.

The Prosecuting Attorney has indicated that they have no objection to the continuance or to Hathaway's absence from court this coming Monday. As of the latest reports, the court has not yet issued a formal response to the motion.

While Hathaway seeks a delay, Daniel Bolen's legal proceedings continue. Bolen, who faces charges of theft, abuse of office, and tampering with evidence, is still scheduled to appear in court on Monday, July 27, for a final pretrial hearing.

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