Derek Scott Finkbeiner, 46, of Malvern, Hot Spring County, Arkansas, United States has been married since August 3, 2002. Aside from Malvern, he has lived in other parts of Arkansas including Gurdon and Hot Springs.
In 2022, Finkbeiner was elected to lead the Hot Spring County Sheriff’s Office. Shortly after he took office, two of his deputies were accused of beating an inmate being transported to another county in Arkansas and arrested.
Between January 1, 2023 and October 2, 2023, Finkbeiner and someone he claimed to be his informant exchanged 130 phone calls. While employed as the Hot Spring County sheriff, Finkbeiner was caught on audio recordings propositioning someone for sex.
In May 2023, a narcotics drug task force working with the Malvern Police Department found out Finkbeiner would be coming to an alleged drug house in Hot Spring County. That month, an Federal Bureau of Investigation agent made a controlled drug purchase at that house and put up a surveillance camera on public property outside the house.
One of the early images captured on the camera was the alleged dealer looking into the direction of the camera then Finkbeiner pulling up and pointing out the camera. Afterwards, the Hot Spring County sheriff repeatedly reached out to the FBI to get information about the camera.
When Finkbeiner found out the camera was part of a drug investigation, he told FBI agents there was no notable drug dealing on the street of the house being investigated. He allegedly told the agents he had a confidential informant on the street and the informant, who was not listed anywhere, was not used for controlled drug buys.
Moreover, Finkbeiner allegedly told the FBI agents their investigation was interfering with his own investigation. The Hot Spring County sheriff allegedly expressed his frustration with the FBI when he spoke with a Malvern Police Department lieutenant and a prosecuting attorney in the area.
On November 2, 2023, FBI agents arrested Finkbeiner. He was charged in federal court with obstruction of justice and booked into the Saline County Detention Center in Benton, Saline County, Arkansas.
From jail, Finkbeiner appeared via video in the Western District of Arkansas Court before Judge Mark E. Ford. Represented by Alex Wynn, Finkbeiner was released after posting a $5,000 bond.
As conditions of Finkbeiner’s bond, he is not allowed to possess guns. He is also required to report any contact with a law enforcement officer, be evaluated for substance abuse and participate in a substance abuse program.
CONAN Daily 