Jefferson County justice of the peace resigns, citing sale of residence

PINE BLUFF — District 3 Justice of the Peace Delton Wright has resigned, according to a letter sent to the Jefferson County Quorum Court.

Wright, 63, said in his letter that he resigned because the sale of property he owned in District 3 placed his official residence in District 4.

The letter states: “I was a qualified elector and resident of District 3 at the time of my reelection and assumption of office. However, due to the sale of the property, my residence is now in District 4. It was my intent to run for the District 4 seat, and I was not aware that move precluded me from completing the term of office.”

The resignation took effect Monday, according to the letter, which is undated.

Wright, a Democrat, was reelected for a 10th consecutive term without opposition in the May 2018 primary election and did not face an opponent in the November general election. He was sworn into office in January 2019.

According to a letter written last month to Prosecuting Attorney Kyle Hunter by Jefferson County Judge Gerald Robinson, “allegations” had surfaced during the year that Wright has failed to meet the legal residency requirements to serve on the Quorum Court.

According to Wright’s 2018 political practices pledge, filed with the Jefferson County clerk’s office, Wright’s place of residence is 1801 S. Linden St., Apartment A. But, according to Wright’s personal property assessment, filed in April with the Jefferson County assessor’s office, his address is listed as 19 W. Southern Pines Drive.

The 19 W. Southern Pines address in Pine Bluff is in District 4, which is represented by Justice of the Peace Patricia Royal Johnson. Jefferson County property records show that Wright purchased the property in October 2005.

Jefferson County property records show that the apartment building in District 3 now listed as 1100 W. Eighth Ave. belonged to Wright from Dec. 1, 2006, when he purchased the property for $53,000, until Sept. 28, 2018, when he sold the property to Rock It Properties LLC of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for $235,000.

Three days later, Rock It Properties LLC sold the property to Tompkins Street Inc. of Highland, Utah, for $277,000.

In a telephone interview Monday, Wright admitted that he had sold the apartment building listed as his address but denied any wrongdoing. He said he continued to live at the apartment even after he sold the building to assist the new owners. Wright said he had vacated the apartment by February 2019, but he said he continued to live in the district by staying at the home of a friend.