Suspect, 28, jailed in stabbing death

A White County man was being held in the Lonoke County jail on a charge of second-degree murder after he was accused of stabbing another man to death Thursday night at a residence in the South Bend area.

A release from Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley said Joshua Watson, 28, was arrested in the death of 33-yearold Bryan Mauldin of Lonoke County. Watson is expected to remain in the detention center without bond until his initial court appearance Tuesday.

The release said deputies responded to a call Thursday night on Warren Road where they found bystanders performing CPR on Mauldin. Mauldin was taken to North Metro Hospital in Jacksonsville, where he was pronounced dead.

Witnesses said Watson stabbed Mauldin, according to the release. The two were acquaintances, the sheriff said.

Staley said deputies arrested Watson at a residence just off Arkansas 70 near the Kerr community shortly after midnight. Investigators had not determined by Friday afternoon why Watson allegedly stabbed Mauldin or what weapon was used, the sheriff said.

Watson was charged in December with felony possession of drug paraphernalia, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance. Court records show he missed a scheduled court appearance on the charges and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest Jan. 5. He already has more than one felony conviction on his record, records show.