SELMA, Ala. (WSFA) — A former Selma city employee has been arrested and fired for allegedly pawning city-owned electronics, the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office confirmed.
Authorities launched an investigation after LEADS Online, a tool used to track pawn transactions across Alabama, flagged suspicious activity. Records showed that around 40 electronic items had been pawned since 2023.
The suspect was identified as John Louis Kinnerson, who served as the IT Director for the City of Selma. Investigators matched serial numbers on the pawned items and confirmed that 36 of them were city property.
While the total value of the items exceeded $17,000, Kinnerson allegedly received only about $4,000 in return.
Following the discovery, Kinnerson was terminated from his position, arrested, and charged with first-degree theft of property and using public office for personal gain.
He was booked into jail on a $60,000 bond but has since been released.
Sheriff Mike Granthum said the investigation underscores the importance of digital tracking systems like LEADS Online in identifying public fraud and theft.
