Woman pleads guilty to drug charge
A shoplifter arrested earlier this year on a felony drug charge after Hot Springs police found meth in her purse pleaded guilty
Monday in Garland County Circuit Court.
Melissa Ann Beeker, 47, of
Hot Springs, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to four years’ probation, fined $1,500 and ordered to pay $595 in court costs. An additional misdemeanor count of theft of property less than $1,000 was adjudicated for time served.
According to the affidavit, on Feb. 16, shortly after 5 p.m., Cpl. LeeAnn Zaner responded to 1/2 of 1/2 Name Brand Clothing, 3310 Central Ave., in reference to a shoplifting in progress and made contact with two occupants of a vehicle attempting to leave the parking lot.
The driver, identified as Beeker, said there was a “mix up at the checkout” but it had already been resolved. Store employees told Zaner Beeker set off the anti-theft exit alarm and then continued to her car without stopping for employees and then refused to get out of the car.
It was determined Beeker had a warrant for failure to appear and her driver’s license was suspended, so she was taken into custody. In searching the vehicle, Zaner found two pairs of pants with the store’s tag still attached with two hangers rolled up behind the driver’s seat. The employees confirmed she had not paid for the pants.
Under the pants, Zaner also found Beeker’s purse, which contained a spoon, two small baggies and a box with 0.6 gram of what later tested positive for meth.
Beeker was initially held on $4,500 bond, but was later released.