Shoplifter with gun, drugs pleads, gets probation

A shoplifter arrested last year with a loaded gun and drugs in his possession was sentenced to six years’ probation Monday after pleading guilty to felony charges in Garland County Circuit Court.

Donovan Michael George,

42, who lists a Hot Springs Village address, pleaded guilty to possession of meth with purpose to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance, hydrocodone, and was sentenced to six years’ probation on each count, to run concurrently, while an additional felony charge of simultaneous possession of drugs and a firearm, punishable by up to life in prison, was withdrawn.

George, who had no prior felony history, was also fined $3,000 and ordered to pay $565 in court costs.

According to the probable cause affidavit, on Aug. 30, 2020, Hot Springs police Cpl. W.K. Franklin responded to Walmart, 1601 Albert Pike, regarding a man, later identified as George, trespassing at the store.

Franklin made contact with Walmart’s loss prevention officer, Robert Hopper, who was detaining George, and he provided proof of a no-contact order issued against George with Walmart as the victim. George initially gave Franklin a false name and date of birth, but eventually admitted his true identity.

During a search of George’s person, Franklin found a loaded .380-caliber handgun in the waistband of his shorts. In a backpack George was carrying, the officer found a small silver canister with 4 grams of what later tested positive for meth, 17 alprazolam pills, two hydrocodone pills, a set of digital scales and a glass tube with 2 grams of marijuana.

George had previously pleaded no contest to misdemeanor theft charges involving Walmart on two prior occasions in district court and was banned from the store.

George was initially held on zero bond and pleaded not guilty to the charges on Nov. 16. After a hearing, the bond was later set at $50,000 and he was released on Dec. 3.