Brothers get pretrial release in drug case
Investigation continues into alleged sales, source of methamphetamine
Two Little River County brothers were allegedly selling an estimated $36,000 worth of methamphetamine to undercover Drug Enforcement Agency agents in 2010, according to a report.
But the alleged drug buys stopped when one of the brothers was shot during a robbery.
A former agent of the South Central Drug Task Force, Brandon Kennemore, testified during a detention hearing Wednesday in Texarkana’s federal courthouse about the alleged amount of meth Kevin Baker, 30, and his brother Ronnie Walton, 28, reportedly sold to undercover DEA agents.
A June 28 raid of the brothers’ residences near Foreman, Ark., resulted in the arrests of Baker, also known as “Flip,” and his brother Walton, also known as “Bay Bay.”
A federal grand jury indictment shows a woman was also involved in the sale of meth, but she has not been arrested.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Caroline Craven presided over the detention hearing Wednesday to determine if the men should be released without a bond or remain in jail.
The hearing was conducted in the U.S. District Court in Texarkana.
Kennemore, who is now a detective for the Ashdown Police Department, was an agent of the drug task force in 2010 during the investigation of the brothers.
He said the drug transactions were videotaped and started April 28, 2010, with the purchase of 4 ounces of meth for $4,000 by a DEA agent.
Baker allegedly sold a half pound of meth for $7,000 to agents.
Kennemore, who is now a detective for the city of Ashdown, Ark., said the brothers sold amounts of 1/2 ounce for $750 and an ounce for $1,000.
A 1/4 pound of meth allegedly sold for $5,200.
Federal Public Defender Bruce Eddy questioned Kennemore about why there were so many sales of meth.
“We were trying to reach a higher target and move up the chain. Then he was shot. He (Baker) was supposed to help the DEA at one point, but he refused to cooperate. The decision was made in the last two months to arrest them,” Kennemore said.
The shooting and robbery, which changed the task force plans, occurred May 9, 2011.
Baker was shot from the head to the foot. He received six gunshot wounds, including two in the head, three in the abdomen and one in a foot. He survived the gunshot wounds and recovered.
Johnathon A. Arnold and Crystal Diane Pond, both of Texarkana, Texas, were arrested for the shooting and attack on Baker.
Arnold and Pond eventually pleaded guilty and were sentenced to prison.
Arnold was sentenced to 30 years for aggravated robbery, 20 years for first-degree battery and 10 years for theft of property. Arnold is required to serve 70 percent of the sentence. He will be eligible for parole in 21 years.
Pond was sentenced to 20 years in prison for attempted aggravated robbery.
The charges filed after the June 28 arrest of Baker and Walton include: one count of conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of meth, three counts of distributing more than 5 grams of meth and one count of aiding another person to distribute a mixture of meth and another substance for Baker; and one count of aiding and abetting another person to distribute 5 grams of actual meth for Walton.
In the detention hearing Wednesday, Craven ruled the men could be released from jail.
Baker was released to the custody of his mother, who lives near Foreman. A monitoring device will be placed in his mother’s home to keep track of Baker.
Craven outlined the restrictions of Baker’s release, which included being unable to travel to Oklahoma.
Walton was released, and the judge also read restrictions to the release.
She also read the stipulations on how the release can be revoked, such as having firearms.
Walton cannot visit his mother, since Baker will be in her custody.
The mother also agreed to have her house repossessed if her son fails to follow the federal guidelines.
Trial dates are pending for both men.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Quinn said the investigation continues into who provided the meth to the brothers, but he declined additional comment.