A mayor from Missouri was arrested last week on charges of felony theft.

Sidney D. Oliver, the mayor of Fairview, Mo. was arrested at 2 a.m. on Thursday of last week, according to Newton County Sheriff. Each of his charges could carry a penalty of up to seven years if convicted.

The 57-year-old mayor had been under investigation for receiving compensation from the city for work that included street repairs and building maintenance, according to The Joplin Globe.

The report states that: “Missouri law imposes limits on how much Oliver, as an unpaid mayor, may receive. That limit is $500 per transaction or a total of $5,000 per year, unless the work is done after competitive bidding with proper public notice and after the bid is the lowest submitted.”

In an interview with the Neosho Daily News, the local Sheriff said his office was approached by members of the Fairview City Council, who alleged the city had paid Oliver more than $19,000 over a two-year period for services which included spreading gravel and maintenance and upkeep on city buildings.

The newspaper reported that, according to a probable cause affidavit, the city paid Oliver $10,403 in 2007, $7,272 in 2008, and $2,904 this year.

Life in local government can certainly get difficult at times. However, when you think times are rough in your area … well, “It Could Be Worse.”

“It Could Be Worse” focuses on a range of embarrassing stories out there, dedicated to some of the more interesting happenings with those involved in local government across the country. For more, click here.