Monticello Live

On August 6, 2025, Derek Logan Simmons was convicted by a jury in the Circuit Court of Bradley County, Arkansas, on three felony counts stemming from a May 2023 drug and weapons investigation.The charges arose from a search conducted on May 24, 2023, at Simmons’ residence on Bradley Road North in Warren. Agents from the Tenth Judicial District Drug Task Force, Arkansas Community Corrections, and the Bradley County Sheriff’s Department executed the search based on his parole conditions and search waiver. During the search, law enforcement officers discovered methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and a loaded shotgun in Simmons’s reported address. Additional evidence included digital scales, multiple smoking devices, and men’s hunting clothes.

Following a jury trial, Simmons was found guilty of Possession of Methamphetamine, Simultaneous Possession of Drugs and Firearms, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

Dermott native, Zelma Johnson, was convicted by a Chicot County jury on July 31, 2025.
The conviction is the result of an investigation by the Tenth Judicial District Drug Task Force (DTF), the Dermott Police Department, and the McGehee Police Department. On July 8, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Johnson’s residence at 905 N Knox St in Dermott, Arkansas. During the search, officers located and seized approximately 12.77 grams of methamphetamine, digital scales, and other drug paraphernalia. Johnson, a registered sex offender, was found to be living at the residence without having properly registered as a sex offender.
During the penalty phase of the trial, the jury heard about Johnson’s extensive criminal history spanning over three decades, involving multiple felony convictions. In 1991, he was convicted in Chicot County for possession of crack cocaine. He was again convicted in 1997, in Pulaski County, for manufacture, delivery, or possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver. In 2003, Johnson received two separate convictions in Chicot County for possession and possession with intent to deliver cocaine, both resulting in prison sentences. His most serious conviction came in 2011, when he was sentenced to ten years in the Arkansas Department of Correction for Rape, a Class Y felony.
The jury returned a verdict fixing the following sentences:
Possession of Methamphetamine with Purpose to Deliver (Class A Felony): 17 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction and a $1,500 fine.
Failure to Register as a Sex Offender (Class C Felony): 17 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction and a $1,500 fine.
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Class D Felony): 3 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction and a $1,000 fine.
The jury recommended that all sentences run concurrently. Circuit Judge Quincey Ross followed the recommendation of the jury and sentenced Johnson to a total term of 17 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction with a total fine of $4000.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney William Bridewell represented the State of Arkansas in the case. “I’m pleased with the jury’s verdict and sentence,” said Bridewell. “Cases involving habitual offenders like Mr. Johnson are typical of the types of jury trials we conduct in the Tenth Judicial District.” Additionally, Mr. Bridewell explained that if Johnson earned the maximum amount of good time credit while incarcerated, he would be eligible for release after serving one-fourth of his sentence or approximately 4.25 years.
At the request of the Chicot County Sheriff’s Department, Johnson was released pending bed space due to a lack of available jail space.
This conviction underscores the commitment of the Tenth Judicial District Prosecutor’s Office and its Drug Task Force to combat drug-related offenses and uphold public safety. Convictions against drug dealers play a critical role in protecting communities and saving lives. Drug trafficking fuels addiction, which often leads to overdoses, long-term health deterioration, and death. By removing dealers from the streets, law enforcement disrupts the supply chain of dangerous substances like fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine, reducing their availability and preventing potential harm to vulnerable individuals. Additionally, drug-related activity is closely linked to property crimes such as burglary and theft, as individuals struggling with addiction often resort to these offenses to fund their habits. Prosecuting and convicting habitual offenders like Zelma Johnson not only holds them accountable but also helps reduce the ripple effects of drug crime, making neighborhoods safer and more stable.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, help is available. Call the Arkansas Department of Human Services Mental Health & Addiction Support Line at 1-844-763-0198 for free, confidential assistance in locating treatment providers and support services in your area.

Tenth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Frank Spain announced that Reginald Nalls, 48, was convicted by a jury on July 29, 2025, for possession of over two grams of methamphetamine, a class C felony.

Investigator Tad Huntsman with the Ashley County Sheriff’s office received information about Nalls that led to an investigation. Nalls was on parole for a 2012 conviction for delivery of cocaine. In that case, an Ashley County jury sentenced him to 40 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction. He was released on parole in mid-2023 and was officially registered as residing in Jacksonville, Arkansas.

Huntsman’s information indicated Nalls was actually living on Dunmore Loop. Based upon this information, Investigator Huntsman and other officers went to locate Mr. Nalls. As a parolee, Nalls was required to sign a search waiver to receive parole.  On February 13, 2025, Nalls was located on Dunsmore Loop, searched, and officers found two separate baggies of methamphetamine, each weighing about 3 grams, hidden in the underwear Nalls was wearing.

The jury heard testimony that Nalls had five previous Ashley County felony convictions between 1993 and 2011 and one felony federal conviction. Based upon these convictions, Nalls had been previously ordered to serve a total of 48 years in either state or federal prison. 

The Ashley County jury recommended that Nalls be sentenced to 30 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections and a $500 fine. Circuit Judge Crews Puryear followed the recommendation of the jury.

Prosecuting Attorney Spain said, “Pursuant to the Protect Arkansas Act, Nalls has the ability to earn early release credits, which could reduce his sentence by up to 75%, meaning that Nalls would have to serve a minimum of seven and a half years before being eligible for release. This verdict and sentence reflect the serious nature of Mr. Nalls’ continued criminal activity, his disregard for the law while on parole, and the effect of methamphetamine on families in our community. We are grateful to the jury for their service and to Sheriff Tommy Sturgeon and his law enforcement officers, whose diligent work helped bring this case to justice.”

Nalls will begin serving his sentence immediately.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, help is available. Call the Arkansas Department of Human Services Mental Health & Addiction Support Line at 1-844-763-0198 for free, confidential assistance in locating treatment providers and support services in your area.

Additional Information

On May 19, 1993, Nalls pleaded guilty in Case number CR1993-13 to Theft of Property, a class B felony, committed on January 16, 1993, and was sentenced to two years in the Arkansas Department of Correction.

On August 19, 1998, Nalls pleaded guilty in case numbers CR1998-148 and CR1998-235 to Possession of Cocaine, a class Y felony,  Possession of Marijuana, a class C felony, both committed on July 11, 1998 and Delivery of Cocaine, a class Y felony, committed on January 20, 1998 and was sentenced to a total of five years in the Arkansas Department of Correction.

On January 20^th, 2011, Nalls entered a guilty plea to Misprision of a Felony committed on November 10, 2009, in federal court case number 1:10CR10010-001 and was sentenced to time served, a total of 437 days, and was placed on supervised release for an additional year.

On April 25^th, 2012, Nalls was convicted by a jury of the offense of delivery of cocaine, a class Y felony, and was sentenced to 40 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections.

Jury duty for Wednesday, February 5, has been canceled.

Jury duty for Tuesday, Thursday and Friday are still scheduled.

State Supreme Court Chief Justice Dan Kemp recently visited the Monticello courthouse, and gave a brief presentation dealing with several topics, including: Strategic plan of court system, Satisfaction of court experience, Statewide e-filing, Hope to build new case management system, Drug courts, and Opioid treatment kits

Marty Sullivan, administrator of the state court system then discussed getting district court onto court connect and other topics. 

Pete Hollingsworth, also, with the state, discussed court security programs.

The three guests are shown in the photo above with Circuit Judges Puryear, Gibson, Ross, and French.

(more…)