DTF auction raises $85K

Vehicles seized under the authority of the state’s civil asset forfeiture law and auctioned Friday at the city of Hot Springs’ Bill Edwards Center generated more than $85,000 in sales.

The proceeds will go to the 18th Judicial District East’s Civil Asset Forfeiture Fund, which supports the 18th Judicial District East Drug Task Force. The multiagency unit is charged with interdicting the flow of illegal drugs into Garland County. Property and money it and other agencies expropriate during drug arrests accrues to the forfeiture fund. State and federal

grants and fees collected from drug arrests also fund the drug task force.

Per the state’s criminal code, 20 percent of the funds are remitted to the Arkansas State Crime Lab Equipment Fund.

The law empowers prosecutors to file civil claims for assets linked to drug trafficking. Vehicles or any conveyance used in the sale or receipt of controlled substances are subject to forfeiture, as are assets deemed to be purchased with drug trafficking proceeds.

Money and firearms found in close proximity to a controlled substance are also subject to forfeiture. The law puts the burden of proving the assets are not linked to illegal activity on the owner.

Real estate is also subject to forfeiture if the associated criminal offense is a Class B felony or higher. Properties on Ragweed Valley Road and Marjorie Lane linked to marijuana cultivation and distribution enterprises were quit claimed to the Garland County prosecutor’s office last year, according to property records and agreements filed in the two forfeiture cases.

No criminal charges were filed in connection with the Ragweed Valley Road seizure. According to a 2016 agreement, the owners consented to the property transfer in exchange for not being prosecuted.

The Marjorie Lane property was transferred last year as part of a plea agreement in the accompanying criminal case.

Some of the vehicles auctioned Friday were also forfeited as part of plea agreements. According to court records, more than a dozen were owned by people who were not part of arrests that led to the accompanying civil claim. The prosecutor’s office has said property owned by people who are not involved in the precipitating criminal act is usually returned if they respond to the civil complaint.

Most of the vehicles sold Friday were forfeited by default, with the owners failing to file timely responses.

Forty-six vehicles and a utility trailer were auctioned Friday. They were sold as-is with no warranty, and payment had to be made in full by the end of the auction. Last year’s auction raised more than $94,000.

Arkansas Auction Group & Realty sold the following vehicles at Friday’s auction:

• 1997 Buick Century — $450.

• 1996 Ford Ranger pickup — $1,000.

• 2000 Dodge Durango —

$800.

• 2001 Lincoln LS — $500.

• 2004 Lexus GS — $1,150.

• 1993 Isuzu pickup — $750.

• 2005 Pontiac Bonneville — $2,300.

• 2003 Ford Expedition —

$500.

• 2006 Chevrolet SCI pickup — $2,000.

• 1996 Chevrolet Caprice —

$2,500.

• 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee — $1,500.

• 2000 Jaguar STY — $2,700.

• 2003 Ford F150 pickup —

$1,900.

• 2007 Chevrolet Impala —

$1,500.

• 2005 Chevrolet Malibu —

$2,400.

• 1997 Ford F150 pickup —

$1,100.

• 2003 Mercury Marquis —

$450.

• 1994 Buick LeSabre — $200.

• 2007 Honda Ridgeline —

$2,800.

• 2012 Hyundai Accent —

$1,100.

• 1995 Ford Ranger pickup — $1,250.

• 1999 Honda Civic — $1,250.

• 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor — $400.

• 1999 Mercury Marquis —

$1,100.

• 2004 Kia Amanti — $300.

• 2008 Chevrolet SC1 pickup — $3,350.

• 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo — $1,350.

• 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe —

$2,000.

• 1995 Chevrolet 1500 pickup — $1,900.

• 1997 Cadillac Deville —

$750.

• 2002 Dodge 1500 pickup — $2,000.

• 1998 GMC Sonoma pickup

$950.

• 2001 Kia Optima — $300.

• 1997 GMC Sierra pickup — $800.

• 2002 Jeep Liberty — $2,000.

• 2006 Ford F350 pickup —

$7,700.

• 2014 Kawasaki EX 300 motorcycle — $1,600.

• 2007 Cadillac TDS —

$3,600.

• 2005 Chevrolet pickup —

$3,600.

• 2003 GMC pickup —

$3,800.

• 2001 GMC Yukon — $2,100.

• 2005 BMW 325i — $2,950.

• 2006 Dodge Charger —

$3,100.

• 2004 Volvo S60 — $1,000.

• 2009 Honda Pilot — $6,700.

• 1995 Chevrolet Corvette — $3,300.

• Tex Mex utility trailer —

$2,100.

The Sentinel-Record/Richard Rasmussen DTF AUCTION: Potential bidders examine some of the vehicles and other items that were put up for auction Friday at the 18th Judicial District East Drug Task Force auction at the Bill Edwards Center on Airport Road. Forty-six vehicles were auctioned, along with an assortment of power tools, a four-wheeler, a boat, TVs and speakers.