Special Prosecutor Requests Removal of Grant County Sheriff
By: Dustin Barnes
Updated: February 26, 2013
According to special prosecuting attorney Jack McQuary, this is why: In 2010, a Kansas district judge ruled Vance falsely obtained a lifetime residence license to hunt there. In doing so, he committed a misdemeanor offense.
Furthermore, Arkansas law considers deceit and dishonesty an infamous crime, and the state Constitution says no person convicted of an infamous crime shall hold any office in the state.
"It's not whether I like somebody or not. It's what the Constitution says, what the law says," Steve Gartman said.
Gartman lost to vance in the 2010 sheriff's race. He believes if voters had known about the conviction prior to the election, he would have won.
The conviction came two days before the election.
"We complain a lot about Washington, D.C., even state government, but if we can't get it right at the local level we have no business complaining," Gartman said.
Another candidate running against Sheriff Vance took documents surrounding the conviction to the county prosecutor, but he never ruled on it. Now he's circuit court judge.
Vance said he would respond to KARK by email but not until Wednesday. He maintains he made a mistake and has paid the fines he owed.
Gartman said that's not enough.


