A local woman on probation from a 2014 conviction was sentenced to six years in prison Monday after pleading guilty in Garland County Circuit Court to a felony count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
The sentence for Tonya Renee Clay, 37, of Hot Springs, will run concurrent with the violation of her probation from her previous conviction while an additional misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia was withdrawn.
According to the affidavit, on Feb. 17, 2016, shortly before 10 a.m., Hot Springs police Detective Ty Threadgill saw a black Ford Explorer eastbound on Hobson Avenue and noted the windshield was cracked, obstructing the driver's view.
After noting the rear left brake light was out, Threadgill stopped the vehicle at Granite and Wood streets and made contact with the male driver, who appeared very nervous, with his hands shaking. It was determined the driver had a suspended driver's license and was on probation for theft of property.
The detective asked if he had any stolen property in the vehicle and he told him no and gave consent to search. Threadgill made contact with the female passenger, identified as Clay, who said she didn't know the driver and was just "getting a ride."
She told him the only item in the vehicle that belonged to her was a red backpack. It was learned Clay had a warrant for a probation violation, so she was taken into custody. The backpack was searched and found to contain two glass pipes used for smoking methamphetamine and one used for smoking marijuana.
• A local woman was sentenced to jail and probation after pleading guilty Monday in circuit court to burglarizing her mother's house earlier this year.
Stefanie Leiann Hughes, 32, pleaded guilty to residential burglary, punishable by up to 20 years in prison, and was sentenced to 120 days in jail followed by five years of probation. She was also ordered to pay $420 in court costs.
According to the affidavit, on April 6, a resident on Shady Grove Road reported a burglary to the Garland County Sheriff's Department. She said she and her husband had installed a game camera at their house and video captured her daughter, identified as Hughes, and her boyfriend making entry into the house.
She said the two suspects pried open the front door to get in and removed medications, a gun safe, two cameras and four lenses, multiple credit cards and $500 in cash, with a total value of $2.275. She said her daughter had not lived with her since February of 2016 and did not have permission to enter the house.
Hughes was taken into custody on April 8 and later released on $5,000 bond. She was arrested again on July 19 after failing to appear in court and had remained in custody since then.
• A local man was sentenced to three years' probation after pleading guilty Monday to fourth-degree sexual assault involving a 15-year-old male victim in 2014.
Charles John Collin, 46, who lists a Burchwood Bay address, must now register as a sex offender and was barred from any future contact with the victim. He was also ordered to pay $670 in court costs and registration fees.
According to the affidavit, on March 9, 2016, HSPD Detective Kenny May was notified by the Arkansas Child Abuse Hotline that a male juvenile had reported that a man named "Chuck" molested him while the two were living together.
The juvenile was interviewed the next day and identified Collin as "Chuck." He said the incidents occurred in 2014 while he was living with Collin in an apartment on Higdon Ferry Road and later on Burchwood Bay.
On April 20, Collin was interviewed at the HSPD and he reportedly admitted he molested the victim. He said the incidents happened on Nov. 10, 2014, at his then Higdon Ferry Road apartment.
Collin said he and the victim also "slept and showered together." It was determined the sexual assault happened while the victim was 15 years old, and Collin was 44 years old.
Collin was arrested April 20 and later released on $2,500 bond.
Local on 09/27/2016