A shoplifter who pulled a gun on Wal-Mart employees in 2015 pleaded guilty to felony charges Monday in Garland County Circuit Court.
Tony Anthony Hutchins, 21, a previously convicted felon, pleaded guilty to a charge of robbery, reduced from an original charge of aggravated robbery, and was sentenced to 10 years' probation. He also pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by certain persons and possession of a defaced firearm and was sentenced to six years' probation on each count, with all the sentences to run concurrent.
Hutchins, who was reportedly homeless at the time of his arrest, was also fined $3,000 and ordered to pay $170 in court costs. He was previously convicted of burglary in 2014 in Smith County, Texas.
According to the affidavit, on Dec. 10, 2015, loss prevention employees at Wal-Mart, 1601 Albert Pike, reported a male wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, khaki pants and a green backpack, later identified as Hutchins, had stolen a cellphone and fled the store. Hutchins reportedly pulled a black handgun from his backpack and pointed it at the employees when they attempted to stop him from fleeing the store.
He fled behind the store headed west where he was spotted by Hot Springs police walking into Kroger, 215 Airport Road. Hutchins walked into the men's restroom and locked himself in a stall. He was taken into custody after exiting the stall and admitted to being in Wal-Mart earlier.
Two cellphones were located in his front pockets and a black hooded sweatshirt was found in his backpack along with an orange flare gun. A 16-gauge shotgun shell with tape wrapped around it to fit in the chamber properly was loaded into the flare gun. A 9-mm handgun with the serial number filed down was located in the toilet.
Hutchins admitted he concealed a cellphone in his pants in Wal-Mart and later removed it from its packaging in the bathroom. He said he attempted to leave without paying when he encountered a loss prevention employee. He ran through the store to exit from a different side when he was approached by a second employee. Hutchins said his backpack fell from his shoulder and he pushed the handgun further into it and fled the store.
ā¢ A felony charge of permitting child abuse filed against a local man last year was withdrawn by prosecutors for lack of evidence after a hearing Monday in circuit court.
Christifer Allen Mauch, 32, and Juanita Adle McBride, 32, both of Hot Springs, were arrested Oct. 24, 2016, and both charged with permitting child abuse, punishable by up to 20 years in prison. The charge against Mauch was withdrawn, but the charge against McBride is still pending in circuit court.
According to the affidavit, on Sept. 30, the Garland County Sheriff's Department received a report of sexual abuse of an 11-year-old female by a known 14-year-old male. During an interview, the male allegedly admitted to sexually assaulting the 11-year-old female and a 12-year-old female on the same day in June 2016.
On Oct. 5, the 11-year-old was interviewed at Cooper-Anthony Mercy Child Advocacy Center and said the male had sexually assaulted her several times over the summer. She said that, on one day, she was sexually assaulted by the male and then witnessed the male sexually assault the 12-year-old. The 11-year-old stated she told McBride several times the male was continuing to sexually assault her before and after he sexually assaulted the 12-year-old.
On Oct. 6, McBride was interviewed by investigators and stated that in June she became aware the male was sexually abusing both females. She said she did not call police, the Child Abuse Hotline or take the 11-year-old to the hospital or physician because she did not know what to do.
During an interview, Mauch allegedly said a former roommate informed him of the sexual abuse a few days after the initial occurrence and he didn't contact anyone. Mauch allegedly said he didn't know what to do and "thought he could put an end to it without getting anyone else involved."
Local on 06/21/2017