This Week's Stories

Stories from around the county this week include the following:

Greenbrier: A Greenbrier man facing charges for possession of a meth-lab admits to investigators that he has cooked methamphetamine while out on bond but remains free.

In April of this year William Dean Hamrick, 30, of Greenbrier was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to manufacture methamphetamine after authorities were call to his home to put out a fire. But due to an overcrowded jail Hamrick was released on a sheriff's bond.

Since that time authorities have received information that Hamrick may be continuing to produce methamphetamine. This past Sunday investigators had a chance to talk to him about this information after Hamrick was stopped for traffic violation in Greenbrier.

Upon interrogation Hamrick readily admits that he has continued to produce methamphetamine in a lab outside this county's jurisdiction and bringing the portions of the lab back to his Greenbrier home. Authorities were given permission to search his shop but found no evidence to corroborate his claims so as a result they let him go.

Now at the time of Hamrick's release in April he signed a standard release form that states he is to uphold the laws of the state while out on bond or risk having his bond revoked. Since that time he has been charged with a number of misdemeanor crimes some of which are resisting arrest and fleeing. And now he admits to producing more methamphetamine and is not behind bars.

Hamrick is one lucky man, lucky to be out of jail on bond to continue his criminal activities. We wonder how much methamphetamine he made while he was out on bond.

Conway: Faulkner County authorities rescue 32 dogs from a residence in the county after receiving a tip that their owner neglected them. Two different stories were recently published about this case of neglect. Here is what KTHV reporter Stefanie Bryant reported,

[Faulkner Co. Humane Society Executive Director] Cheryl Belazs describes what they saw in the home when they rescued the animals, "There were inches of feces covering the entire property especially indoors. A lot of the dogs did have medical conditions and were really living in unacceptable conditions."

According to Belazs, they were living at the home with the owner, who she calls a collector orhoarder. "Collecting or hoarding is where people take on exorbitant numbers of animals thinking that they're saving them and often they're not able to take care of them."

She says it's a mental condition that eventually takes over.

The owner has not been charged because the animals were being fed and given water.

Currently there is no law in the county on how many animals can be kept at the home. Faulkner County Quorum Court Member Jerry Park says, "I would like to at some point have an ordinance in place so that we can step in, the county with the county humane officer to do just that."

Park says they first want to find a place for the animals, like building an appropriate shelter. All of that costs money and could mean a tax.

Park continues, "I don't know any other way to do it. Anytime you start mentioning tax people get up in arms about it and you say you really can't blame them."

In all, 18 dogs survived. With a little training and love, Belazs says these dogs will make great pets. "They're still available and are being taken care of at various houses until they're well enough to be adopted."

No word on what will happen with the owner.
The Humane society met with the Quorum court on what action should be taken, including making sure the property is cleaned up.

13 dogs are still available for adoption. If you would like one, you can contact the Faulkner County Humane Society at 501-329-2361.

The new jail opening has also been in the TV news media spotlight of late. KATV reports,

Conway (AP) - Officials in Faulkner County are preparing to open the county's new jail. The $6 million jail will have room for 158 inmates. Jail managers are making a few minor fixes before they can start training guards and other staff.

Workers are to install flooring at the jail on July 6 and jailers will be able to train about one week after the floors are complete. Officials say the jail should be ready for inmates the first week in August.

We however remember a Log Cabin article that places the maximum number of inmates at 274. Also from KATV we read that a high crime rate, especially for the crime of murder, is being blamed on a crowded Pulaski County Jail. Imagine that, a overcrowded jail can lead to a higher crime rate, where have we heard that before.

Coming up in later editions of this blog will be the warrant process. We have a nearly 1 million dollar computer networking system (AIJIS) but it still takes about three working days to process a Failure to Appear Warrant.

New Jail is again the topic

In this past Tuesday's Quorum Court Meeting there were some changes discussed there too. In a previous meeting JP Dan Thessing had moved that the court name the new jail after former JP Ann Harrell. On Tuesday Thessing wanted to have Harrell's name removed from consideration. The Court agreed and voted in favor of Thessing's newest motion. Thessing said they would find a more appropriate way to honor former JP Harrell. Could the recent problems and the extensive delays cause this action? Probably.

Speaking of the new jail, Sergeant Glen Wilcox addressed the issue of problems with the completion of the new jail in a letter addressed Major Bobby Brown, jail administrator. County Administrator Mike Hutchens read the contents of this letter to the court. It seems there are a few more problems that have to be addressed before the new floor sealant can begin.

Computer problems with three doors and a generator enunciator top the short list of remaining problems that are to be fixed before the flooring crew can begin; Wilcox estimates the jail will open the first week of August.

JP Jimmy Bryant addressed the court and members of the media to clear up what he called a misunderstanding on the part of some citizens of the county. Bryant says he understands that some people believe that the cost of the repairs being done to the jail is costing the county revenue.

"The builder is paying for the repairs to the detention center," Bryant said.


We here at the FCSO.INFO blog would like to again add that the costs the county is experiencing in the delayed opening of the new jail isn't about what the county is spending but more about what the county is losing. The ability to collect fines and to house inmates is being hindered by these delays. With a 9.8 million dollar debt owed to the county and people out on sheriff's bonds free to continue their illegal activities we maintain that these delays are costing us plenty.

All is not lost

We are back once again. The FCSO.INFO server is back online and ready to go...

Server Down, looking for a new host

Our web host has failed us again, the FCSO.INFO site is down and possibly lost. We are looking for a new host and will be rebuilding our main site as soon as possible. In the meantime look for new post here.

Thank you for your patience while we rebuild.

If I pay it back is it still a crime?

This is a great state to live and work, especially if you are an employee or an elected official of the state. In yet another case of egregious misuse of public funds the alleged offender apparently will not face criminal charges. John Harris director of the Arkansas Board of Architects is accused of receiving more than $100,000 in unauthorized travel reimbursements and falsified some travel records but faces nothing more than public embarrassment, according to Rep. Jim Medley, R-Fort Smith

On March 1st Harris resigned his post at the Board of Architects and has repaid over $100,000 in misspend tax dollars but admits no intentional wrongdoing. In an Associated Press article writer Andrew DeMillo writes,

"Despite the fact that Mr. Harris disputes any contention that he owes money to, or that he intentionally committed any wrongdoing, he has now reimbursed the state for all the sums the Legislative Audit contends are due,"Little Rock lawyer Patrick R. James wrote in the letter.

James added, "We understand the payment of these sums brings this matter to an end."

In this county you may remember special prosecutors finding egregious incidents of theft and fraud and in similar fashion no charges were filed. Is there no accountability or criminal liability for state employee's or elected officials?

Fortunately for us taxpayers this latest case of abuse got their attention and has raised their awareness of the problem. Senator Percy Malone, D-Arkadelphia was reported saying,

"This is the most egregious situation I've seen since I've been a legislator. This is a whole lot of money, and there's a whole lot of questions left.

[. . . ]

What we've created in Arkansas ... is a situation where you can rob a bank and if you get caught, all you have to do is pay it back,"Malone said.

Rep. Jim Medley, R-Fort Smith adds, "About all the leverage we have is some sort of public outcry when something like this happens."

These sentiments are likely shared by most, if not all, of us taxpayers. It is down right outrageous that an elected or an appointed official can get away with misusing public money. All one has to do, if he gets caught is claim ignorance and repay the funds. This does nothing to deter future acts of misuse, what we need are actual laws that make this kind of activity illegal.

If you have read this site's support us page you'd see that new legislation making the misuse of public funds a crime is in the works. Thanks to Rep. Preston Scroggin, D-Vilonia, a new bill will be introduced at the 2007 legislative session that, if passed, will make the misuse of public funds a felony in cases like this one.

With any luck, and help from you and the mainstream media, we can get this passed into law to help prosecutors stop these kinds of abuses.

Be watching for this proposed legislation in Feb 2007…

Winning the Meth War, is it possible

Can the war against methamphetamine really be won? That remains to be seen. In a case that is far too close to us we are seeing some of the difficulties involved. In our last post we told you about the suspected meth lab located next door.

Out on a sheriff's bond because of an overcrowded jail this alleged offender is free to keep up his criminal activities if he chooses to do so. And as addictive as methamphetamine is there is a real possibility of that happening.

For years now this county has seen quite a few problems involving an overcrowded jail, problems that affect many of use law-abiding citizens in one way or another. Everything from poor inmate care that has lead to many lawsuits, to criminal offenders walking the streets free because the jail is closed, to court ordered fines and restitution going collected again because the jail is closed.

To make matters worse we have the still growing problem of methamphetamine, the biggest illegal drug menace in America. Here in Arkansas the number of people seeking treatment at more than 200 publicly funded treatment centers across the state has risen. In 2004, the number of meth admissions was a little more than 5,000 people. By 2005 that number has grown to more than 6,700.

The number of meth arrest also doubled during roughly the same period. The state of Utah is the only state that matches Arkansas's 100% increase in the number of meth arrests. In June 2005 a National Association of Counties survey of 500 law enforcement agencies showed Arkansas and Utah as the only states where meth-related arrests went up 100 percent over the past 12 months.

With these kinds of increases coupled with the overcrowded conditions of the prisons and county jails in this state it doesn't appear that the battle against meth is being won. The war against this epidemic is not over yet however. New laws regulating the sale of cold pills and programs like criminal nuisance abatement are helping communities fight this war.

One such program is working in the city of North Little Rock. The S.A.F.E. (Support, Abatement, Fines and Enforcement) team was designed to be a comprehensive criminal nuisance abatement program that allows cities to fight crime by utilizing civil laws to shutdown crack houses, meth-labs, and properties that are havens for criminal activity. Under this program landlords are giving incentives (support) to improve their property or legal action against the non-compliant tenants and landlords will be taken.

Members of the 20th District Drug Task Force have recently been backing a proposal for a criminal nuisance abatement ordinance in the city of Conway and would like to see it at the county level as well. Speaking as a county resident who had and quite possible still has a meth lab literally right next door we think this is a good idea. You should too, after all with the increases in meth related arrests we have seen lately how long do you think it will take before a meth lab is built next door to your home? Assuming that one isn't there already, of course.

Can the war against methamphetamine really be won? Only with a concerted effort on the part of federal, state, and local officials working with the community and the media to catch, incarcerate, and rehabilitate these offenders and clean up properties that have become havens for criminal activity. This is the challenge our new and returning elected officials must face, a challenge that is important to us all.