Man pleads not guilty in Hot Springs slaying

HOT SPRINGS — A man accused in a beating death earlier this year pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a felony count of first-degree murder in Garland County Circuit Court.

Terry Eugene Hughes, 55, has remained in custody in lieu of $150,000 bond since his arrest April 14, the day of the slaying. He could face up to life in prison if convicted in the death of Joshua David Buck, 43, who was found dead inside his apartment at 307 Oakcliff St.

A hearing is scheduled for Sept. 15 to determine the admissibility of any statements Hughes made to Hot Springs police after his arrest. Judge Marcia Hearnsberger issued a gag order Tuesday limiting pretrial publicity in the case.

Hughes, who lists no felony history, pleaded guilty June 8 to a misdemeanor count of driving while intoxicated stemming from his arrest March 27. He was sentenced to one year in jail and ordered to be assessed through Ouachita Behavioral Health and Wellness and to complete a MADD victim impact panel after his release.

According to the probable-cause affidavit, around 10:30 a.m. April 14 Hughes called 911 and stated there was a body at the apartment where he was on Oakcliff Street, but he didn’t know the exact address.

Dispatchers determined Hughes was calling from the upstairs apartment at 207 Oakcliff, and officers responded. Before officers arrived, Hughes told the dispatcher he knew the victim was dead because he had hit him in the head with a baseball bat, according to the affidavit.

When officers arrived, Hughes told them he had hit “Joshua” in the head with the bat and “kept hitting him with it,” the affidavit said.

Buck was found in his bedroom with obvious trauma on the back of his head and no signs of life. He was pronounced dead a short time later by Coroner Stuart Smedley, who noted it appeared Buck had been deceased for a couple of hours before police had been called.

Detectives found a bloody bat in Buck’s bedroom and blood in the apartment indicated there were “numerous blows to the head while the victim was on the floor,” the affidavit stated.

Suspected blood also was seen on Hughes’ socks and pants at the time of his arrest, according to the affidavit.