Woman appears after allegedly killing boyfriend

EL DORADO — Bond remained at $50,000 for a Smackover woman who was accused of second-degree murder in the stabbing death of her boyfriend last week.

Nelda Tatum, 55, of 1702 Lisbon Road, made her first appearance Monday in 35th Judicial District Court.

She sat before Judge Jack Barker in a wheelchair, restrained by her left wrist to the corresponding arm of the chair.

Tatum was arrested on July 3 after she admitting cutting 68-yearold Bobby L. Bell with a kitchen knife during an argument at 1105 Magnolia in Smackover.

Smackover police said a single laceration to the back of Bell’s left knee severed a major artery, causing Bell to bleed to death.

Police Chief Michael Fife said Tatum and Bell were visiting friends when an argument ensued between the couple.

Officers responded at approximately 3:45 p.m. to a report of a stabbing and a victim in need of assistance at the Magnolia Street residence.

The victim was identified as Bell. He was transported by ambulance to Medical Center of South Arkansas, where he was later pronounced dead.

Fife said Tatum later admitted to cutting Bell.

Wearing a faded, redstriped jail uniform on Monday, Tatum softly responded to Barker’s questions during her first appearance in court.

Fife said Tatum had complained of feeling weak and not up to walking, so Union County Jail staff employed the use of a wheelchair for her court appearance.

Tatum was determined indigent after she told Barker that she was disabled, and a monthly, Supplemental Security Income disability check was her sole source of income.

She is being held in the county jail in lieu of a $50,000 bond, cash or corporate surety.

If Tatum is released on bond, she is to abide by a daily curfew of 4 p.m. until 9 a.m.

She was also barred from having any contact with Bell’s family members and the witnesses of the case, the residents of the house where the incident occurred.

Also during first appearances on Monday, a recommended bond of $100,000, cash or corporate surety, was revoked for a Smackover man who was arrested July 2 on numerous drug charges.

Zachary B. Cherry, 32, of 601 Lisbon Road, faces felony charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent

to deliver, possession of Schedule I or II narcotics with intent to deliver, possession of Schedule IV narcotics, possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of instruments of crime.

He was also arrested on misdemeanor charges of public intoxication and possession of instruments of crime.

An investigation got under way after Smackover police received a report of “a couple of subjects who appeared to be under influence of something” in the 600 block of Broadway.

Police said Cherry and his wife, 29-year-old Courtney L. Cherry, were standing near a soda vending machine in front of a business in the area.

Sgt. Robert Hodges said both were taken into custody for public intoxication, noting that Blake Cherry had Xanax and Valium pills in his possession.

A further probe led to the discovery of more drugs and drug paraphernalia — including marijuana, methamphetamine, Ecstasy, digital scales, hypodermic needles and spoons — and additional charges for Blake Cherry, police said.

A charge of petition to revoke probation was later tacked onto the list of charges for Blake Cherry, who was arrested in 2013 for his alleged involvement in a steroid ring that encompassed Union and Columbia counties.

At the time, he was on probation for previous drug arrests.

Hodges said the investigation into the July 3 arrest was ongoing and more arrests were anticipated.

A warrant was subsequently issued for the arrest of Courtney Cherry on additional charges of three counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Hodges said Courtney Cherry turned herself in on Sunday.

She had been released from the Union County Jail on a $15,000 AFATS (any form acceptable to the sheriff) bond prior to the start of first appearance hearings on Monday.

In addition to public intoxication, Courtney Cherry was also charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

All three charges are misdemeanors.