During Tuesday night’s MHS Basket Ball game against Little Rock Mills, MHS players returned to their locker room to discover many stolen items. According to Dr. Alyssa Hopper, mother of MHS basketball player Austin Hopper, the key that was given to lock the locker room would not lock the door. MHS’s team manager took key to the score table and was told, “Don’t worry; someone will watch the locker room.”

After the second half of the game, players went to gather their belongings from the locker room and came out to tell their parents of the missing items. Players’ phones, headphones, money, and other items were taken. Dr. Hopper told MLive that the suspects didn’t just take billfolds, but took time to go through them and put them back empty. “They even emptied a package of gum and put the empty package back.” – Hopper

Dr. Hopper stated that they had installed a free app called “Find my iPhone” onto their son Austin’s iPhone, and they immediately tried to use Mr. Terry Hopper’s iPhone to try to locate their son’s phone. “It kept saying “Cannot locate” and we weren’t sure what was wrong.” – Dr. Hopper

Dr. Hopper then contacted Lauren Donaldson, a college student at UAM that had helped install the app on Austin’s phone for help. She stated that from her home computer, Lauren was successfully able to track Austin’s phone and they were eventually able to track the phone from Mr. Hopper’s iPhone.

The Hoppers then contact the Pulaski County Sherriff’s Office for help retrieving the stolen phone after it was successfully tracked. Dr. Hopper stated that the Sherriff’s Office said they had not had any calls about the stolen items.

The PCSO was able to locate the stolen iPhone based on screen shots and the tracking from the Find Your iPhone app. Only two iPhones were recovered out of the multiple stolen items.

“I want people to put this on their phones and iPod Touch’s… we’ve had so many stolen over the past few years.” –Dr. Alyssa Hopper

Jackey M. Bostian, of HWY 35 East, was charged by the prosecuting attorney’s office, Monday.  Bostian is accused of causing fatal injuries to his son, Ridley Bostian, who was less that 2 months old, during the early morning hours of February 8, 2011.  The child died 8 days later at Children’s Hospital in Little Rock.

He was arrested Tuesday by Arkansas State Police.

His first appearance hearing should be held on Wednesday.

Circuit Judge Sam Pope set a $50,000 bond (part commercial bond, part cash/property bond) at the hearing, where the courtroom was filled to standing room only capacity.

Bostian’s attorney Sara Hartness told the court that her client had notified law enforcement of his intent to surrender himself to the court; however deputy prosecuting attorney responded to the court that when officers arrived at his parents residence, Bostian was found sitting in a closet, attempting to send a text message.

The next hearing date in the case is set for March 12.

On January 2 at approximately 10:15 pm, a Drew County Sheriff Deputy was dispatched to an unknown residence located on 6th Street in Wilmar. When the deputy arrived on scene, he was told that Tyrone Grays, 29 of Wilmar, had beaten a female causing injuries to her hand and head, which required staples. A warrant has been issued for Tyrone Grays for aggravated assault. If anyone knows the whereabouts of Grays, they are urged to contact the Sheriff’s Department at 367-6211 or email an anonymous tip though www.drewcountysheriff.com.

This is the same person that police were searching for, after she escaped arrest, last week, by running from Sonic, as police arrived.

Veronic Childs has since bonded out of the Drew County Detention Facility.

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Fleeing Forgery Suspect Turns Herself In At MPD
Feb 2, 2012

According to sources, the 22 year old forgery suspect who ran from police at Sonic, Wednesday, turned herself in to the Monticello Police Dept, Thursday morning around 8 am.

Veronica Childs will go before a judge Friday for her first appearance hearing.

WANTED BY POLICE!!!
Feb. 1, 2012

Veronica Childs – 22 year old black female. 4ft 9in tall, 240 pounds.

Local law enforcement are still searching for Veronica Childs.  Childs fled from officers at Sonic in Monticello around 3:40pm Wednesday wearing a Sonic Uniform.

She is wanted on a felony warrant for forgery. If you have any information on the location of Childs contact your local law enforcement agency or the Monticello Police Department at 367-3411.

On January 31, at approximately 10:00 pm, the Drew County Sheriff’s Department received a report that a man had been severely beaten at a residence located on Tara Grove, near Monticello.

The victim stated to deputies that Mark Hallman, 23 of Monticello, and John Henry Miller, 47 of Monticello, came into his yard at Tara Grove and began fighting him. Hallman allegedly had a tire tool and was hitting the victim with it. Hallman and Miller were asked repeatedly to stop hitting the man, but they refused.

The victim was transported by ambulance to Drew Memorial Hospital, where he was treated for serious injuries to his head, face, back, and chest. One of the injuries to his head required forty stitches.

During the probable cause hearing for Hallman, the responding deputy showed the judge photos of the many marks left on his chest, back, and head by the tire tool.

The beating victim, with his head wrapped in bandages, testified on behalf of Hallman, giving self-conflicting statements about how and when the events occurred that night. Sheriff Mark Gober, Chief Deputy Robin Hood, and Deputy Jeremy Chapman also spoke about the facts and testimony that came to be known during their investigation.

Mark Hallman was arrested by the Drew County Sheriff’s Department on February 1st at the probation office in Monticello. He was taken to the Drew County Detention facility where he was charged with 1st degree battery. He was taken for a first appearance and was given a bond of $4,000. He posted his bond and was released on February 1.

A warrant has been issued for Johnny Henry Miller. If anyone knows of his whereabouts they are urged to contact the Drew County Sheriff’s Department at 367-6211.

MPD patrol units saw the pair, as they were leaving the Mason Hill neighborhood on September 18/19. when the suspects threw 2 stolen bikes and other items.  Most items were returned to the owners, but the suspects were not apprehended that night.

Daniel Cash of East Jackson Street was arrested Thursday.  Another Monticello man, Phillip Crook, age 19, was arrested in November on un-related charges, where a reportedly stolen 45 caliber handgun was recovered.  Charges for the additional B & E cases are likely pending against Crook, as well.

Recently, 39 bags of trash were picked up on the Old Dermott Highway and Fire Range Road by individuals assigned to the Drew County Sheriff’s Litter Crew. Sheriff Mark Gober says, “We continue to use individuals that owe old fines and probation fees to pick up litter on roads and streets in Drew County.” The litter crew is scheduled to pick trash on the Deep Green Road within the week.

On the afternoon of January 19, a subject came to the Drew County Sheriff’s Office to report that Larry Alan Pierce, 51 of Star City, had beaten him up at a residence located at 160 Cripple Creek Lane.

The victim, an 82 year old male, had been working on a mobile home when Pierce allegedly came to the location and threatened to “whip” and “kill” the victim. When the victim turned away, Pierce began hitting him in the head and facial area.

Pierce was arrested by Drew County Sheriff Deputies and transported to the Drew County Detention Facility where he was charged with Battery 2nd degree which is a felony charge due to the victim being over 60 years old.

The jury sentenced him to 24 years in prison for those crimes, which were committed against a 7 year old.  He was released on an appeal bond, pending this court decision.

Arthur Lee Newton, Jr., age 65 of Monticello filed an appeal on that verdict, which was recently heard by the ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS, DIVISION IV.

Judge Waymond Brown wrote this opinion of the Appeals Court affimation of Newton’s conviction.

Appellant Arthur Lee Newton, Jr. argued on appeal that the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions because there was no evidence that his actions were motivated by the desire for sexual gratification. He also argued that the trial court erred by overruling his objection to a question that had already been asked and answered. 

Newton’s first argument on appeal was that the circuit court erred in denying his motion for directed verdict because there was insufficient evidence to support his convictions. 

He was also charged with rape; however, the court granted his motion for directed verdict as to the rape charge.

The evidence viewed in the light most favorable to the State shows the following: Newton, the victim’s grandfather, witnessed the victim and another juvenille in an inappropriate act.  In court, Newton stated that he took her to a nearby pond, to check her.  Newton conceded that he may have touched the victim while helping her remove her panties.

Judge Brown stated, “Here, the victim’s testimony was enough to support Newton’s convictions for both sexual indecency with a child and sexual assault in the second degree. Newton argues that he only evaluated the victim to ensure that she was not hurt as a result of what he had witnessed.”   ”The jury was presented with both the victim’s and Newton’s account of what took place and chose to believe the victim. Accordingly, we affirm.”

Next, Newton argues that the trial court erred by overruling his objection to a question that he alleged had already been asked and answered. The trial court has wide discretion in making evidentiary rulings, and this court will not reverse those rulings absent an abuse of discretion.  The victim in this case was eight years old at the time she testified.  “Given the age of the victim  and the nature of the charges, we cannot say that the trial court abused its discretion in overruling Newton’s objection. Therefore, we affirm.”

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Local Man Sentenced to 24 Years for Sex Crimes against 7 Year Old
May 25, 2011

A Drew County Circuit Court jury of 5 men and 7 women only took 40 minutes to find a local man guilty of sexual indecency with a child and 2nd degree sexual assault.  They only needed 25 minutes to sentence him to 24 years in prison for those crimes.

Arthur Lee Newton, Jr., age 65 of Monticello was arrested  on September 2, 2010 for the crimes against a 7 year old.  The rape charge was dismissed by the court.

The deputy prosecutor, Frank Spain, called the victim and a nurse, among others, as witnesses.  He also provided a doll for the child to use to point to areas touched during the events that took place that day.

The possible maximum sentence was up to 6 years on the indecency charge, and 5-20 years on the sexual assault charge.  Newton could be released in 1/6 of that time.

The jury sentenced him to 6 years and 18 years, to run consecutively.  Judge Sam Pope approved the jury’s decision, sentencing him to a total of 24 years.  As he was being sentenced, Newton told the judge, “I never molested that child.”  “I did not do it.”

Before the trial ended, Newton’s lawyer, Gary Potts, asked that he be released on an appeal bond.  Judge Pope told Potts that if his trial bondsman would extend his bond to cover the appeal, the court would accept that.

As of Tuesday night, Newton remained in the Drew County Detention facility, awaiting bed space in the Arkansas Dept of Corrections.

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Rape added to Charges against Local Man
September 16, 2011

Arthur Lee Newton, Jr.of Monticello, was arrested by the Drew County Sheriff’s Dept., September 2, and charged with 2nd degree sexual assault, for events that occurred on August 16.

Documents  filed in the Drew County Circuit Clerk’s office by Prosecuting Attorney Thomas Deen, have updated the charges against Newton to include rape and sexual indecency with a child under the age of 14.

Newton’s bond set at $100,000.  He is being held at the Drew County Detention Facility.

The sentence for rape ranges from 25-40 years or life.

The owner advised that he had seen the missing property Friday evening.  A red single-seat go-cart (with a 5 hp Briggs and Stratton engine), along with a pink and a gray battery operated scooter were located under a carport. All three items were held together with a chain and the chain had been cut. 

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Monday, the Drew County Sheriffs Dept received a call about a farmer in east Drew County about stolen farm equipment.

The owner reported that a John Deere cultivator had been cut up and hauled away. ’It looked as though a cutting torch was used to cut it in to small pieces. The only thing left was the bar.” 

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Also on Monday, a Rabb Road resident came into Sheriff’s Office and made a report of stolen property.

He reported that sometime between, Wednesday, January 18 Saturday, January 21, someone had stolen his 14 foot, flat bottom, MonArk boat.