NOWCAST 40/29 News at 5:30
Watch on Demand
Advertisement

Court documents reveal felony conviction for Sebastian Co. election commission chairman
Brett Rains
Multimedia Journalist
Court documents reveal felony conviction for Sebastian Co. election commission chairman
OFF. THE SHERIFF SAYS THE SUSPECT FIRED TWO SHOTS WHILE RUNNING OFF. NEW TONIGHT... WE'VE LEARNED THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SEBASTIAN COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSION áMAY NOT BE QUALIFIED TO SERVE IN OFFICE DUE TO A PREVIOUS FELONY CONVICTION. 40/29'S BRETT RAINS HAS BEEN INVESTIGATING AND IS LIVE TONIGHT IN FORT SMITH WITH MORE ON THE CRIME AND WHAT THE LAW SAYS WHEN IT COMES TO HOLDING OFFICE. <> " WE SPOKE TO SEBASTIAN COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSION CHAIRMAN JASON VINEYARD, BUT HE DID NOT WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT. ACCORDING TO COURT RECORDS, VINEYARD PLEADED GUILTY TO FELONY OVERDRAFT NEARLY 20 YEARS AGO. THE PROSECUTOR SAYS VINEYARD'S CASE IS STILL ACTIVE. AND ACCORDING TO THE SECRETARY OF STATES OFFICE, VINEYARD MAY HAVE BEEN VOTING THE ENTIRE TIME." <> JASON ANDREW VINEYARD IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SEBASTIAN COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSION. BUT THIS IS VINEYARD WHEN HE WAS ARRESTED IN 2020 OVER A PETITION TO REVOKE HIS SUSPENDED SENTENCE FROM 2003 FOR NOT PAYING FINES, COURT COSTS AND RESTITUTION. THE PETITION WAS WITHDRAWN AFTER, ACCORDING TO COURT RECORDS, A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF RESTITUTION WAS PAID. ACCORDING TO COURT RECORDS, IN 2002, VINEYARD WAS CHARGED WITH FELONY OVERDRAFT, ACCUSED OF WRITING MORE THAN $20,000 IN HOT CHECKS. COURT RECORDS SHOW HE PLEADED GUILTY IN 2003 AND WAS ISSUED A 10 YEAR SUSPENDED SENTENCE. HE WAS ORDERED TO PAY $20,055 IN RESTITUTION AS WELL AS COURT FINES AND COSTS. ACCORDING TO THE SEBASTIAN COUNTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, VINEYARD HAS NOT YET PAID ALL OF THE RESTITUTION AND FINES AND HIS CASE IS STILL ACTIVE. ACCORDING TO ARKANSAS LAW, AN ELECTION COMMISSIONER CAN NOT HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY CONVICTED OF VIOLATING STATE ELECTION LAWS AND THEY MUST BE A QUALIFIED ELECTOR OF THE STATE, MEANING THEY CAN VOTE. ACCORDING TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE, TO BE A REGISTERED VOTER IN ARKANSAS YOU CAN NOT BE A CONVICTED FELON WHOSE SENTENCE HAS NOT BEEN DISCHARGED OR PARDONED. <> "they can't just take your word for it, you have to have documentation." CHRIS POWELL WITH THE ARKANSAS SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE SAYS DISCHARGING A FELONY SENTENCE MEANS... <> "that you have served whatever prison time you have supposed to have served, that you have paid all fines, fees or restitution what was required of you, and then you submit that proof to the voter registration department at your county clerk's office." BUT ACCORDING TO VOTER HISTORY RECORDS WITH THE STATE, VINEYARD VOTED IN THE 2004 GENERAL ELECTION AND EVERY MAJOR ELECTION SINCE THEN INCLUDING THE 2022 PRIMARIES. <> "we submit monthly reports to the counties on felons, people who have died and things like that. So the county clerks are responsible for the maintenance of the voter roles. That is not something our office does. We can not add or take people off." ACCORDING TO THE SEBASTIAN COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE THERE ARE NO RECORDS UPDATING VINEYARD'S VOTER REGISTRATION OR EVER LISTING HIM AS HAVING A PREVIOUS FELONY CONVICTION. POWELL SAYS IF LAWS WERE BROKEN... <> "that is a serious election offense that you can definitely be prosecuted for." <> "EARLIER TODAY I ASKED VINEYARD ABOUT THE PREVIOUS FELONY CONVICTION. HE SAID HE NEEDED SOME TIME TO GET BACK WITH US ABOUT ISSUING A STATEMENT.
Advertisement
Court documents reveal felony conviction for Sebastian Co. election commission chairman
Brett Rains
Multimedia Journalist
According to court records, Jason Vineyard pleaded guilty to a felony overdraft charge nearly 20 years ago. Vineyard is currently the chairman of the Sebastian County Election Commission. And the Secretary of State's office says Vineyard may have been voting since his conviction in 2003.Watch the story above for more information40/29 News spoke to Vineyard, but he did not wish to comment about the felony conviction.Jail records show Vineyard was arrested in 2020, after a Petition to Revoke was issued over non-payment of restitution and court fines related to a suspended sentence from 2003. The petition was withdrawn due to substantial payments that were made, according to court records.In 2002 Vineyard was charged with felony overdraft. He was accused of writing more than $20,000 in hot checks. Court records show he pleaded guilty in 2003 to the felony charge, imposition of sentence was withheld for 10 years. Vineyard was ordered to pay $20,055 in restitution as well as court costs and fines.According to the Sebastian County Prosecutor’s office, Vineyard has not yet paid all the restitution and fines. His case is considered as still being active and not discharged.Under Arkansas law, an election commissioner must be a ‘qualified elector’ and cannot serve if they have been previously convicted of violating state election laws.According to the AR Secretary of State’s Office, to be a registered voter, a person convicted of a felony charge must have their sentence discharged or pardoned."They can't just take your word for it, you have to have documentation," said Chris Powell, spokesperson for the Secretary of State’s office.Powell told 40/29 News discharging a felony sentence means, "That you have served whatever prison time you were to have supposed to have served. That you have paid all fines, fees or restitution what was required of you. And then you submit that proof to the voter registration department at your county clerk's office," he said.According to voter history records obtained by 40/29 News, Vineyard voted in the 2004 General Election and every major election since his 2003 felony conviction."We submit monthly reports to the counties on felons, people who have died and things like that. So, the county clerks are responsible for the maintenance of the voter rolls. That is not something our office does. We cannot add or take people off," Powell said.According to the Sebastian County Clerk’s Office, there are no records updating Vineyard’s voter registration and there are no records ever listing him as having a previous felony conviction.40/29 News contacted the chairman of the Sebastian County Republican Party for comment but have received a response.The director of the AR Board of Election Commissioners told 40/29 News he was unaware of any discrepancies and said he would investigate the matter.
SEBASTIAN COUNTY, Ark. —

According to court records, Jason Vineyard pleaded guilty to a felony overdraft charge nearly 20 years ago. Vineyard is currently the chairman of the Sebastian County Election Commission. And the Secretary of State's office says Vineyard may have been voting since his conviction in 2003.

Advertisement

Watch the story above for more information

40/29 News spoke to Vineyard, but he did not wish to comment about the felony conviction.

Jail records show Vineyard was arrested in 2020, after a Petition to Revoke was issued over non-payment of restitution and court fines related to a suspended sentence from 2003. The petition was withdrawn due to substantial payments that were made, according to court records.

In 2002 Vineyard was charged with felony overdraft. He was accused of writing more than $20,000 in hot checks. Court records show he pleaded guilty in 2003 to the felony charge, imposition of sentence was withheld for 10 years. Vineyard was ordered to pay $20,055 in restitution as well as court costs and fines.

According to the Sebastian County Prosecutor’s office, Vineyard has not yet paid all the restitution and fines. His case is considered as still being active and not discharged.

Under Arkansas law, an election commissioner must be a ‘qualified elector’ and cannot serve if they have been previously convicted of violating state election laws.

According to the AR Secretary of State’s Office, to be a registered voter, a person convicted of a felony charge must have their sentence discharged or pardoned.

"They can't just take your word for it, you have to have documentation," said Chris Powell, spokesperson for the Secretary of State’s office.

Powell told 40/29 News discharging a felony sentence means, "That you have served whatever prison time you were to have supposed to have served. That you have paid all fines, fees or restitution what was required of you. And then you submit that proof to the voter registration department at your county clerk's office," he said.

According to voter history records obtained by 40/29 News, Vineyard voted in the 2004 General Election and every major election since his 2003 felony conviction.

"We submit monthly reports to the counties on felons, people who have died and things like that. So, the county clerks are responsible for the maintenance of the voter rolls. That is not something our office does. We cannot add or take people off," Powell said.

According to the Sebastian County Clerk’s Office, there are no records updating Vineyard’s voter registration and there are no records ever listing him as having a previous felony conviction.

40/29 News contacted the chairman of the Sebastian County Republican Party for comment but have received a response.

The director of the AR Board of Election Commissioners told 40/29 News he was unaware of any discrepancies and said he would investigate the matter.