Local man arrested on multiple charges after alleged attack on mother
A local man was arrested on multiple charges late Thursday after allegedly attacking his mother and then fighting with a Garland County Sheriff’s deputy trying to take him into custody.
Robert Jessie Lee Walton III, 28, who lists an address of 288 Couchwood Road, was taken into custody shortly after 10 p. m. and charged with misdemeanor counts of third- degree domestic battery, first- degree criminal mischief and resisting arrest, each punishable by up to one year in jail, and public intoxication.
Walton, who has a long history of alcohol- related offenses, including several arrests for driving while intoxicated and driving on a suspended license, was still being held without bond Friday and is set to appear May 15 in Garland County District Court.
According to the affidavit, around 8: 30 p. m. the victim, 52, and a male witness, 35, state Walton, who is the victim’s son, kicked in the door to her residence in the 900 block of Highway 7 north, and began “pushing, kicking and choking” her.
After the victim called 911 for help, the suspect left and fled into the woods behind her house. GCSD Deputy Matthew Wharton arrived at the residence and spoke to the victim and the witness.
Wharton noted visible redness and swelling to the victim’s neck and the right side of her face.
He left to search the area for the suspect and a few minutes later, the victim called 911 again to report Walton had come back to her house.
Wharton returned and saw Walton in the living room and asked him to step outside to speak with him. Walton allegedly stated, “I didn’t do anything and I’m not going anywhere.”
The deputy told Walton he was under arrest and instructed him to stand up and put his hands behind his back. Walton stood, turned around and put his hand behind him. At that time, the deputy noted a strong odor of intoxicants on the suspect’s breath and person and that he had red, watery eyes.
He got his right hand cuffed, but then Walton pulled his left hand away and yelled, “I ain’t going to jail, f--- this!” He struggled and the deputy took him to the floor and got him cuffed.
Upon arrival at the detention center, Walton stated he thought he broke his right ankle while being arrested. Wharton noted there was bruising and swelling, so Lifenet was notified and Walton was transported to St. Joseph’s Mercy Health Center where he was treated and later released back into custody.
LITTLE ROCK — A woman charged as part of a large drug and corruption investigation in eastern Arkansas pleaded guilty Friday to money laundering.
Federal prosecutors recommended a two- year prison sentence for Catina Davis as part of the plea deal.
Another man, Aron Burns, also pleaded guilty Friday to a drug- related charge in the same investigation, dubbed Operation Delta Blues. He could face up to 20 years in prison.
Both Burns and Davis will be sentenced later.
They were among 71 people, including five law enforcement officers, who were indicted as part of an investigation that focused on Helena- West Helena. Four of
the officers have pleaded guilty so far, as have a number of other suspects.
Prosecutors said Davis is the common- law wife of Demetrius Colbert, who was charged in the same case with drug- and firearms- related crimes. Colbert has pleaded not guilty. His attorney didn’t return a phone message Friday.
During Davis’ hearing Friday, federal prosecutor Julie Peters said Davis delivered two cashier’s checks purchased in Memphis, Tenn., to Colbert in Marianna, Ark., so they could put a down payment on property there.
Peters also said Davis knew the transaction was designed to hide the source and ownership of $ 12,000 in drug- trafficking proceeds.
When U. S. District Judge James A. Moody asked whether Davis knew the money was drug proceeds, Davis said she did.
Moody said Davis will have to return to federal court for formal sentencing.
Lawsuit against Arkansas lottery alleges tampering
LITTLE ROCK — A lawsuit against the Arkansas lottery alleges that a $ 20 scratch ticket game had flaws in its printing and that workers at a retailer were able to tamper with the tickets to find $ 50 winners.
The suit by Rick Tomboli of Pulaski County was filed Friday. It alleges that Arkansas Millionaires Club instant tickets had a flaw by which the store workers were able to exploit by piercing the tickets with a pin to see if the tickets carried a $ 50 bonus.
State Rep. John Walker of Little Rock is representing Tomboli. Walker, a civil rights lawyer, is seeking class status for the lawsuit, which claims any number of other people may have been shortchanged.
A lottery spokeswoman didn’t immediately respond to phone and email messages seeking comment.
More rabies cases than usual this year in state
LITTLE ROCK — State officials say there are a greater number of rabies cases than normal this year in Arkansas.
The University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service said Friday that the most common carriers of the deadly virus are bats, foxes, raccoons and skunks. Livestock can also become infected.
A couple of cases have been detected in Pulaski County, but most have been in the western half of the state. The Arkansas Health Department reports a total of 68 cases statewide so far this year.
The cases include 57 skunks, nine bats, and a dog and a cow.
The virus is fatal to people but is treatable if caught in time.
Indications of rabies in animals include agitated or aggressive behavior during which they may attack humans.
Authorities: Divers recover body in Arkansas River
LITTLE ROCK — Authorities say divers have recovered a body from the Arkansas River near where a 13- year- old jumped off the Interstate 430 bridge in North Little Rock.
Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Lt. Carl Minden said the body has not been positively identified as the boy’s as of Friday afternoon. But the body matches the boy’s physical description and has clothes that he was wearing when he jumped.
Minden has said the young teenager was being taken to a mental health facility Wednesday when he told his guardian he would jump from their moving car unless it was stopped. Minden says when the car stopped, the boy got out and walked to the side of the bridge and jumped.
The boy’s name has not been released.
Judicial commission sanctions 2 Ark. judges
LITTLE ROCK — The state’s judicial disciplinary commission is reprimanding an Arkansas judge who issued an order in a case involving an employee’s child.
The Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission sent a letter Friday reprimanding Benton County District Court Judge Brad Karren.
The commission says Karren ordered a detention center to give his employee’s family access to the child in a juvenile detention center. The commission says Karren’s actions gave the appearance of affording special privileges to one family.
Karren didn’t respond to a phone message or email seeking comment.
The commission also sent a letter of censure to Circuit Judge Edwin Keaton in Camden about delayed responses in cases.
Keaton didn’t return a phone message seeking comment either.
Appeals court assigns gas rights at Ark. coal mine
LITTLE ROCK — A federal appeals court has ruled that holders of coal rights at a Sebastian County mine do not also own the natural gas rights.
The Friday ruling affirms a federal judge’s finding that a set of three deeds issued in the 1960s specifically granted coal rights to one entity and rights to oil, gas and other minerals to other holders.