A former Arkansas fire chief has received probation after pleading guilty in a payroll scheme investigators said diverted city money through inflated work hours.
Former Johnson Fire Chief Chance Lamar Wright pleaded guilty August 6 to theft and abuse of office in Washington County Circuit Court after a case that had been scheduled for a jury trial later that month.
Investigators said Wright approved payroll hours for Brian Copeland, a Springdale firefighter who was being paid by the City of Johnson even though Johnson firefighters reported that they did not remember seeing him work the shifts listed on his time records.
According to KNWA, Wright was placed on probation and ordered to pay $10,512.03 in restitution to the City of Johnson, a $1,000 fine and complete 200 hours of community service.
Investigators Said Wright Inflated Copeland’s Hours
The case began after Johnson firefighters raised questions about time records showing Copeland working multiple shifts for the department. The firefighters told investigators they did not remember seeing him at the station during the periods reflected on those records.
Copeland was a Springdale firefighter, but investigators determined that the City of Johnson paid him $8,865 between January 1 and May 13, 2025. Wright, who was Johnson’s fire chief and acted as Copeland’s supervisor for the city work, approved those payments.
According to the probable-cause affidavit described in court reporting, Copeland told investigators that Wright was responsible for recording his hours and deliberately inflated them so that Copeland could transfer part of the resulting pay back to Wright.
Copeland Said He Did Perform Work for Wright
Copeland did not tell investigators that he performed no work at all for Johnson. He said he provided consulting assistance to Wright and helped the fire department with various matters.
According to court records described in earlier reporting, Copeland initially estimated that he worked between 20 and 40 hours per week before revising that estimate to between 20 and 25 hours.
Copeland allegedly told investigators that Wright inflated the hours so part of his city paycheck could be transferred to the chief. The probable-cause affidavit did not publicly specify exactly how much Copeland transferred to Wright or describe every method used to move the money.
Investigators Documented a Conversation With Wright
The investigation also included a telephone conversation between Wright and a Washington County Sheriff’s Office detective. According to court records summarized by Fire Law Blog, Wright asked the detective about the best- and worst-case consequences if he resigned and what kind of jail exposure he might face.
During that conversation, Wright allegedly referred to the arrangement as involving roughly $800 a month and connected his financial situation to expenses involving his former wife.
The City of Johnson learned about the investigation on May 5, 2025. Wright resigned as fire chief on May 13 and surrendered to authorities on May 27. He was originally charged with abuse of office and theft of property valued between $5,000 and $25,000 and was released after posting a $1,500 bond.
Wright Pleaded Guilty Before His Scheduled Trial
Wright initially entered a not-guilty plea through a written waiver of arraignment in June 2025. The case continued through several court settings and had eventually been scheduled for a jury trial on August 17, 2026.
Instead, Wright appeared in Washington County Circuit Court on August 6 and entered the guilty plea that resolved the case without trial. He received probation.
Copeland Was Charged Separately
Copeland was separately charged with theft of property in connection with the payroll arrangement. He was arrested in May 2025 and released on a $1,500 bond.
At the time of his arrest, the Springdale Fire Department placed him on paid administrative leave while the matter was investigated. Unlike Wright, whose guilty plea has now resolved his criminal case, Copeland’s charge should still be treated separately.
Fire Law Blog reported that Copeland’s case was scheduled for trial on August 20, 2026. A charge against Copeland is an accusation, and unless his case is resolved through a guilty plea or conviction, he remains presumed innocent.
Payroll Fraud Can Hide Behind a Supervisor’s Approval
The U.S. Government Accountability Office’s time-and-attendance guidance emphasizes controls designed to ensure that reported work time is properly recorded, reviewed and approved. Agencies can reduce risk by comparing time records with schedules, assignments and other evidence showing when and where work was actually performed.
Cities and other employers should also separate key payroll responsibilities when possible. The person who records or changes an employee’s hours should not have unchecked authority to approve those same hours and cause payment to be issued. Payroll departments should preserve change histories showing who entered, altered and approved hours.
Public employees who notice suspicious payroll activity should document the discrepancy and use appropriate internal reporting, audit or law-enforcement channels. Arkansas Legislative Audit is responsible for promoting financial accountability involving public resources and conducts audits, reviews and special reports involving governmental entities throughout the state.