Local man pleads guilty to felony charge from drug-related in March

A Hot Springs man arrested earlier this year on a felony drug charge after Hot Springs police responded to a report of suspicious activity pleaded guilty Tuesday in Garland County Circuit Court.

Jordan James Danehower, 32, appeared with his attorney, Brent Miller, and pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a controlled substance, meth, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, and was sentenced to four years’ probation, fined $1,000 and ordered to pay $565 in court costs and fees. An additional charge of failure to appear was withdrawn.

His alleged accomplice, Justin Michael Morgan, 38, who was arrested on the same charge, is set for a disposition hearing on the matter on Sept. 4.

“My client tried to evade detection by tossing the contraband, probation plea was proper and he really wants to start again,” Miller told The Sentinel-Record Tuesday. “From the element of crime he endeavors to sever, enter into rehab and get his life together.”

According to the probable cause affidavit, on March 4, shortly before 11:30 a.m., police were dispatched to the 100 block of Coca Bay Point, off Burchwood Bay Road, regarding two suspicious white males hiding behind a resident’s fence.

Upon arrival, officers located two men, identified as Danehower and Morgan, sitting in the woods behind the residence “exactly where the caller advised.” When asked what they were doing there, they stated they were “taking a break.”

It was later determined the two were reportedly involved in an earlier disturbance in the 900 block of Twin Points Road and had fled before officers arrived there.

A computer check revealed Danehower had felony warrants for his arrest out of Mena and Heber Springs and Morgan had a felony absconder warrant out of probation and parole so both were taken into custody.

In the middle of where the two were located officers found a blue container labeled “Dime Bag,” which contained 3 grams of what later tested positive for meth. Neither Danehower or Morgan admitted to being in possession of the container so because it was found within arms reach of either of them they were both charged.

Danehower was released on $3,500 bond on March 18, but after he failed to appear for his scheduled arraignment on May 8, a warrant was issued for his arrest and he was taken into custody again on May 30. He pleaded not guilty to the charge on June 5 and a disposition hearing was set for Tuesday.