HOXIE, Ark. — Hoxie Mayor Dennis Coggins is facing felony theft charges after authorities allege he misused city-purchased materials for personal property.
On Friday, a judge found probable cause to charge Coggins, 70, with theft of property valued over $1,000 but less than $5,000—a Class D felony.
According to court documents, the City of Hoxie spent $3,221.96 on 45 boxes of laminate flooring on March 15, 2024, with the intention of renovating City Hall. While 15 boxes were used for the mayor’s office, the remaining 30 boxes were stored in a closet for future use.
Later, when the Hoxie Police Department planned to use the leftover flooring in its office, the materials were nowhere to be found. An investigation revealed the flooring had allegedly been removed by Jerry Ward at the mayor’s request and installed in a private home on SE Front Street.
A search warrant was executed at the property on April 8, 2025. Police found the flooring installed throughout the home, as well as one unopened box that matched the SKU on the original Home Depot receipt. The resident confirmed to police that Coggins had instructed the installation and also stated that Coggins owned the home.
Investigators valued the missing flooring at approximately $2,147.70, and the City of Hoxie had not been reimbursed.
Coggins is now facing criminal charges as the case proceeds.
