Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Four Plead Not Guilty
RESIDENTS ARRAIGNED ON KIDNAPPING, MURDER CHARGES DENIED BOND
FAYETTEVILLE — Four Prairie Grove residents facing murder and kidnapping charges in the death of a Prairie Grove man pleaded not guilty last week in Washington County Circuit Court before Magistrate Ray Reynolds, according to Washington County Prosecuting Attorney John Threet.
Heather Carlene Swain, 35, and James Allen Patton, 35, both of 17191 Edwards Road in Prairie Grove, and Anthony Allen Swinford, 35, and Timothy William Swinford, 37, both of 16296 Elgin Road in Prairie Grove, are charged in connection with felony accomplice to capital murder and felony accomplice to kidnapping.
Bond was denied for all four during the Jan. 30 arraignment. They were represented by the Washington County Public Defender’s office at the arraignment, according to Debi Strobel, case coordinator with the prosecuting attorney’s office.
An April 2 trial date was set before Washington County Circuit Judge William A. Storey, Threet said.
The suspects are charged with the kidnapping and murder of Ronnie Lee Bradley, 48, of Prairie Grove. Bradley’s body was discovered the morning of Dec. 27 in the driveway of 17409 Four Corners Road, near the intersection of Greasy Valley Road. He had been severely beaten, according to a preliminary arrest report.
Threet said a conviction of accomplice to murder carries a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty. The accomplice to kidnapping charge carries a sentence of 10 to 40 years or life if convicted.
Threet said the suspects are facing other charges. Both Swinfords have sentencing enhancements for being habitual offenders and all four are facing sentencing enhancements for engaging in violent criminal group activity.
Swain also faces an additional charge of tampering with evidence, a D felony. If convicted of this charge, she faces up to six years in prison and/or a fine up to $10,000.
Threet said Swain allegedly tried to eliminate evidence but he would not go into further details on this charge.
Patton also was arraigned on an unrelated charge. He pleaded not guilty to battery. In addition, Anthony Swinford is facing revocation on a prior sentence from a terroristic threatening conviction. Threet said Anthony Swinford received a suspended sentence for that conviction.
Threet said he would make a decision on whether to seek the death penalty “somewhere down the road” after he has viewed the evidence, talked to investigators and met with the family.
“Ultimately, it’s my decision but I want to know what the family thinks,” Threet said.
According to the preliminary arrest report and a news release issued after the arrests, Anthony Swinford apparently admitted to beating Bradley during an interview with investigators. He allegedly implicated the other three suspects.
The preliminary arrest stated that the defendants allegedly went to Bradley’s home and lured him into Swain’s vehicle. Over the course of the next few hours, the report stated the suspects allegedly took turns driving the vehicle and choking and beating the victim at different locations within the southwest area of Washington County.