Murder-for-hire charge dismissed

Target of alleged conspiracy says accusation false, refuses to testify against business owner

Criminal charges have been dismissed against a local pawn shop owner accused last year in a murder-for-hire conspiracy in Miller County, Ark.

At the end of a hearing Monday morning before Circuit Judge Kirk Johnson, Prosecuting Attorney Stephanie Black asked for a dismissal of felony charges pending against William “Bill” Duffer, owner of Tri-State Pawn & Jewelry on State Line Avenue in Texarkana, Ark.

“My client’s ready to go on about his life as a productive member of our community,” said Texarkana lawyer John Goodson following the hearing Monday. “Clearly there was a phone call made that was brought to the attention of the prosecutor by Ms. Dougan, facts that neither the police nor prosecutors were aware of when they filed this case.”

Black called Christina Dougan, the alleged target of the murder-for-hire conspiracy at the core of the attempted solicitation of capital murder charges Duffer faced, to testify Monday.

Dougan testified that a man named Joey Moore, who is not named in court documents related to the case, made the allegations in hopes of curing a conflict between Dougan and Moore related to criminal charges Dougan’s son is facing in Cass County, Texas. Dougan said Moore was aware of a falling out between her and Duffer and believed Dougan would be pleased if

Duffer faced criminal prosecution. Moore is not facing criminal charges related to the case.

Dougan testified under questioning from Black that Duffer was her employer for numerous years and that the two of them had an intimate relationship at one time. When that relationship ended badly, Dougan sought a protective order from the court and was informed at a June 2016 hearing that Duffer had been arrested for allegedly trying to hire a hit man to end her life.

Dougan said she called Duffer at his business in December.

“I said I knew he’d never try to kill me,” Dougan said. “And I told him that if Joey Moore was their (the state’s) witness they were making a big mistake.”

Black asked Dougan to confirm on the record that Dougan recently reviewed audio recordings in the state’s possession in their entirety at Black’s office.

“And you asked me to dismiss the charges,” Black asked.

Dougan agreed that she is seeking a dismissal of the charges against Duffer, is unwilling to testify against him in a criminal proceeding and that she does not intend to cooperate with the state in a prosecution of Duffer.

Under questioning from Goodson, Dougan agreed that she has never met or spoken with Goodson or his law partner, Matt Keil, and that her testimony is “unsolicited by defense counsel or Mr. Duffer.”

Dougan’s testimony led Black to make an oral motion to dismiss the charges against Duffer. Johnson granted the motion.

llarowe@texarkanagazette.com