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School district supt. arrested on theft by receiving charge


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Reported by: Dustin Barnes
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Updated: 1/10 9:45 pm Published: 1/10 12:16 pm
CONWAY, AR - Guy-Perkins School District Superintendent David Westenhover was arrested Thursday on charges he received stolen weapons that investigators say his son took from a Greenbrier man.

Parents in the Guy-Perkins School District say it's not their first time hearing about this.

Steven Thorn/ Parent
"We thought it would just be a blow over deal,” parent Steven Thorn said. “It's gotten bigger now."

According to the affidavit, Westenhover not only knew his son stole the guns but the superintendent tried to pay the victims so they wouldn't report it.

Investigators say Westenhover went as far as sending his son to another county to “safeguard him.”

Prosecuting Attorney Cody Hiland said, "This is important for us as a community that it's the individual and not the institution that should be blamed for this."

No matter how you look at it, Thorn says this is a black eye on the small district. The father of three says he trusts the school board members will act appropriately.

"We're sure that the facts will come out and everything will be all right, no matter which way it goes," he said.

Westenhover was charged with theft by receiving, hindering apprehension and obstruction of government operations.

At a school board meeting Thursday night, Westenhover was put on paid administrative leave. In a letter to the board, Westenhover said he would resign at the end of the year.
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cmducks - 1/11/2013 8:20 PM
1 Vote
wpsark... It appeared to me that the supt. was buying the guns from his son. He try'd to pay the victom off so they would not report the young man. I also agree about pawn shops. They should be held accountable for buying stolen guns. If they can hold a scrap yard accountable on metal that doesn't have serial numbers than they should dang sure be able to hold a broker for a gun that does/don't. If they crack down on pawn shop's and other people paying for stolen merchandise the crime in that area would slow way down. If the money goes away for it than it would not be worth the risk. There in eliminating the problem.

roberBware - 1/10/2013 7:05 PM
4 Votes
The Moral of This Story is it's alright to payoff the Lawyer,Judge, Police, but Don't Bribe the Victims!

1gmama - 1/10/2013 4:29 PM
5 Votes
wpsark, i would like to know the same thing about pawnshops, when the theives took my stuff to the pawn shop, I had to pay to get it back.

wpsark - 1/10/2013 3:48 PM
4 Votes
itsjustme, from what I understand, it does not matter if he knew or not. I'd like to know why pawnshops don't get "theft by receiving" charges?

itsjustme - 1/10/2013 3:22 PM
6 Votes
If he bought the guns without knowing they were stolen, no harm done. If he did know they were stolen, nail his ass. I want to know if they have arrested or know who it was that stole the guns? Nothing has been mentioned of that.

pat72209 - 1/10/2013 3:05 PM
4 Votes
Anyone COULD be in possession of a stolen gun.....doesn't mean they participated in the theft. I hope not.

wpsark - 1/10/2013 3:01 PM
4 Votes
Well where/who did he buy the guns from????
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