FERRIDAY — A Clayton man has been arrested after being accused of taking $41,000 from his workplace.

James E. Hawkins Jr., 50, 246 Loomis Lane, Clayton, was arrested by the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office Wednesday on 97 counts of forgery.

Over a period of two years, Hawkins allegedly forged his boss’s signature on McLain Farms’ company checks, pocketing $41,000, CPSO Chief Deputy David Hedrick said.

Hedrick said an accountant reported the discrepancy.

“The CPA called and asked why they had paid the suspect $3,000 one month,” Hedrick said. “They got to looking and realized what was happening.

“My deputies and Detective Phillip Smith did an outstanding job on getting this case cleared up. I’m very proud of them.”

Hawkins was in jail Wednesday evening with no bond set.