A habitual shoplifter on probation from previous theft convictions was sentenced to two years in prison Tuesday after pleading guilty in Garland County Circuit Court.
Mary Ann Wright, 67, who has remained in custody in lieu of $7,500 bond since her arrest March 27, was initially charged with four felony counts of theft of a credit-debit card and a misdemeanor count of criminal trespass, but she pleaded guilty to one theft count and the criminal trespass charge was withdrawn.
She was sentenced to two years in prison, with the sentence to run concurrent with a two-year sentence after her probation from her conviction on two prior theft charges was revoked as the result of her arrest on the new charges.
Wright, who lists an address of 411 Quapaw Ave., was also ordered to pay $170 in court costs, but will be given credit for time served since her arrest.
According to the arrest affidavit, on Jan. 10, shortly after 12:30 p.m., a female customer at Wal-Mart, 1601 Albert Pike, stated she was shopping in the health and beauty department when she went to pay for a purchase and realized her wallet was missing from her purse. It was noted her purse contained $235 and four credit cards.
She reported the incident to Wal-Mart security and Hot Springs police, which reviewed store video that showed an older white female reaching into the victim's purse and removing her wallet and then leaving the store.
HSPD Cpl. Calcagno reportedly recognized the woman in the video, having dealt with her regarding numerous previous thefts at Wal-Mart and Kroger stores, and identified her as Wright.
The report notes Wright was banned from all Wal-Mart stores on Oct. 29, 2012, after she was reportedly caught stealing someone's wallet, resulting in the additional trespass charge.
• A Bonnerdale man arrested earlier this year on a felony drug charge after he was initially stopped for loitering outside a convenience store pleaded guilty Tuesday in circuit court.
Lonnie Michael Davidson, 39, who lists an address of 624 Sunflower Road, was set to stand trial Tuesday but instead pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, and was sentenced to three years in prison, with the sentence suspended, and 90 days in jail. He was also ordered to pay $695 in court costs and fees.
According to the affidavit, on March 6, between 10:30 and about 10:55 p.m., HSPD Officer K. May had observed a white male, later identified as Davidson, loitering in the parking lot of the Valero at Grand and Central Avenues, so he finally pulled into the lot to make contact with him and tell him to stop.
As the officer got out, Davidson began to walk away, but May told him to come over to him and to put his hands on his car. As he began to walk over, Davidson shoved his hands down in his waistband.
May again ordered him to show his hands and put them on the hood of his car so he could check him for weapons, and the suspect complied. He told him to put his hands behind him so he could detain him and search him.
Davidson complied, but as the officer was preparing to detain him, he began to struggle and attempted to pull away. May noted he tensed up and would not allow him to handcuff him. He still had hold of Davidson's arms as he started to walk away, pulling May with him, and both of them fell to the ground.
May states he held Davidson there until other officers came and assisted in taking him into custody on the loitering charge. He was patted down for weapons and the officers found a pill bottle in his jacket pocket that contained two methacarbomal pills, one clonzapam, two alprazolam pills, five empty baggies and one baggie containing 0.4 grams of a white powder that later tested positive for crystal meth.
When questioned, Davidson admitted the powder was "crank" or "dope."
Davidson was later released on $3,750 bond, but his bond was later revoked and he was arrested again May 6 and had remained in custody since then.
• A local man was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty Monday in circuit court to a felony drug charge from an incident last summer.
Bobby Joe Lloyd, 34, who lists an address of 105 Westbrook St., was set to stand trial this week, but pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance, meth, and was sentenced to six years in prison, with four years suspended, and ordered to pay $295 in court costs.
Prosecutors filed a motion to classify Lloyd as a habitual offender because he was convicted of theft by receiving in Montgomery County in 1999 and theft of property in Pike County in 2012, but withdrew the motion in exchange for his plea.
According to the affidavit, on July 14, 2013, HSPD Officer N. Rines and Cpl. F. Sears was dispatched to the area of Carpenter Dam and Shady Grove roads regarding two suspicious people seen walking on the road carrying a safe and a crowbar.
The officers located two suspects matching the description, including Lloyd, walking on George Street and discovered Lloyd had two warrants out of Benton for his arrest so he was taken into custody.
He was patted down and the officers found a small clear bag with 0.3 grams of meth in his pocket.
Lloyd was later released on $2,500 bond, but was arrested again June 21 this year after failing to appear at scheduled hearings and had remained in custody since then in lieu of $10,000 bond.
Local on 07/24/2014