A habitual offender arrested last year on multiple drug charges after fleeing from Hot Springs police was sentenced to six years in prison Monday after pleading guilty in Garland County Circuit Court.
Robert Lee Nutt, 30, of Hot Springs, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with purpose to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia and was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with 14 years suspended, on each count, to run concurrently, while additional charges of possession of marijuana with purpose to deliver and fleeing were withdrawn.
As part of his sentence, Nutt agreed to a consent to search waiver upon his release.
Nutt was convicted on Sept. 28, 2010, of theft by receiving more than $2,500 and theft by receiving of a credit-debit card, and on Jan. 8, 2013, of possession of meth or cocaine with purpose to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia.
According to the affidavit, on June 24, 2017, police Officers Robert Plyler and Justin Bradbury responded to the Quality Inn, 4319 Central Ave., regarding a possible theft that occurred between Nutt and another man. As officers arrived and attempted to make contact with Nutt, he started walking away. Plyler ordered Nutt to stop, but he began running toward the 4200 block of Central.
While Nutt was fleeing, Plyler noticed him holding a small black bag, as if it were a football. He pursued Nutt in his patrol car and caught up with him in a nearby parking lot. He was taken into custody without further incident and without the small black bag in his possession.
An employee at a nearby business told officers he saw Nutt throw a bag over the fence prior to being arrested. K-9 Officer Chad Ford and his partner, Ork, responded to the scene and Ork was able to locate the black bag within a matter of seconds.
Plyler inspected the bag and found approximately 122 grams of crack cocaine, two clear bags containing approximately 19 grams of marijuana, $850, a set of digital scales, a clear glass pipe with white residue, partially smoked joints, a cellphone, two lighters and two packs of cigarettes.
Nutt was charged with multiple counts and later released on $15,500 bond.
Local on 08/22/2018