Hot Springs Village man held after July shooting

HOT SPRINGS — A Hot Springs Village man was arrested on a felony warrant Monday night in Hot Springs Village stemming from accusations that he shot another Hot Springs man in the face in July near the victim’s residence.

Ashton Duane Topham, 19, who lists a Valencia Way address, was taken into custody shortly before 9:30 p.m. on DeSoto Center Drive by Hot Springs Village police on a charge of first-degree battery, punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Topham remained in custody Tuesday in lieu of $100,000 bond. He is set to appear Jan. 24 in Garland County District Court, although he will likely be arraigned before then if he is unable to post bond. According to a probable cause affidavit, shortly before 2 a.m. July 24, Hot Springs police responded to a residence in the 200 block of Pinewood Street regarding the male resident, 44, “being shot in the face.”

During initial interviews shortly after being shot, the victim claimed he could not describe the shooter. On Aug. 19, police said, the victim came to the police department for a second interview and said he did know the shooter and identified him as Topham.

The victim said that on July 24, around 12:45 a.m., he had received a phone call from Topham. The victim was at a local bar and told Topham to meet him at his residence.

When Topham arrived, police said, he parked just south of the victim’s residence in front of a neighbor’s house. The victim walked out to the street and told Topham to pull forward and park in front of his house.

Instead of pulling up, Topham asked the victim to come over to the passenger side of the vehicle, police said. The victim leaned in the passenger side window and Topham shot him in the face, the affidavit says.