School principal arrested for shoplifting

JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) – A Jonesboro school principal spent just over an hour in the Craighead County Detention Center after her arrest Saturday for shoplifting.

Douglas MacArthur Junior High School principal Erin Nicole Hodges, 44, was arrested on suspicion of theft of $1,000 or less.

Around 7:35 p.m. on Oct. 28, a Jonesboro police officer responded to Target, 3000 E. Highland Dr., in reference to a suspect “concealing items in a manner to rob the business.”

According to the initial incident report, surveillance video showed Hodges grabbing two of the same shirts and stuffing one inside the other before folding them and placing them in her cart.

A store employee said they saw Hodges do this with “three different shirts and jackets.”

When she went to check out, the incident report stated, “(Hodges) only scanned and paid for the three items of clothing that were on the outside.”

When store employees stopped Hodges, “they also found several items that she had not scanned at checkout, which she attempted to use to leave the store. These items consisted of different types of air fresheners.” All items totaled $82.

According to the sheriff’s office, Hodges was admitted to CCDC at 8:37 p.m. She was released on her own recognizance at 9:44 p.m. “due to overcrowding,” according to jail records.

Hodges will appear in Craighead County District Court on January 6, 2025 to answer the charges.

K8 News has reached out to Jonesboro Public Schools for comment on Hodges’ arrest. We have yet to hear back.

According to the district online licensed contract information for employeesHodges receives $92,353.68 annually.

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