A previously convicted felon arrested last year in connection with the drive-by shooting of a local woman pleaded not guilty to felony charges Tuesday in Garland County Circuit Court.
Marshall Clarence Nolen, 39, who lists a Garland Avenue address, appeared before Judge Marcia Hearnsberger with his court-appointed attorney, Tim Beckham, and pleaded not guilty to first-degree battery and possession of a firearm by certain persons, each punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
Nolen was arrested Oct. 26 in connection with the Oct. 5 shooting of a 55-year-old woman in the 600 block of Albert Pike and initially held on $50,000 bond. Bond was later lowered to $30,000 and he was released on Dec. 7. Hearnsberger issued an order barring him from contact with the victim and a hearing to determine if any statements he made to Hot Springs police are admissible is set for March 13.
According to the probable cause affidavit, police responded to Red Rose Court apartments, 612 Albert Pike Road, in reference to a shooting shortly after 11:15 p.m. on Oct. 5 and found the victim in the parking lot with a single gunshot wound to her lower back. She was transported to CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs with serious injuries requiring immediate surgery.
Witnesses said a black man in a four-door maroon car with tape over one of the driver's side windows had driven by, opened his driver's side door and began shooting at the victim as she was walking through the parking lot. Five spent 9-mm shell casings were located at the scene.
On Oct. 6, two Red Rose Court residents told police Detective Nathan Rines the suspect, later identified as Nolen, had been in an argument with another resident before the shooting. One of the residents said he had witnessed the argument, and the car Nolen had driven was the same car used in the shooting.
On Oct. 9, police Detective Scott Lampinen observed a maroon 1995 Geo Prizm matching the car described at the scene. The vehicle was registered to Nolen, and was driven by a black man with a light-skinned black woman in the passenger seat.
On Oct. 10, Lampinen interviewed the witness who said she had known Nolen for about three years, and that he and his female companion, whose description matched the woman Lampinen had seen, gave her a ride to get something to eat on the night of the shooting.
She said when they returned to the apartments, Nolen got in the argument mentioned by her earlier. She said Nolen claimed the other resident pulled a knife on him.
Nolen then angrily told the resident he would be back and then drove his car to another location where he went inside for a few minutes and then came back out. He then drove back to the apartments and let the witness out of the car.
The resident said she went back into her apartment and the shooting occurred two to three minutes later.
Local on 01/04/2018