A Pine Bluff woman arrested last year after stealing almost $3,000 in clothing from a local department store and fleeing from police was sentenced to six years in prison Tuesday after pleading guilty in Garland County Circuit Court.
Kierra Monique Lyons, 25, who has remained in custody since her arrest Oct. 6, 2017, pleaded guilty to a felony count of theft of property more than $1,000 with her prison sentence to run concurrently with the revocation of her probation from felony convictions for theft in 2016 in Pulaski County.
Additional misdemeanor charges of fleeing on foot and obstructing government operations were withdrawn by prosecutors. Lyons was also ordered to pay $170 in court costs and will be given credit for time served since her arrest.
Her alleged accomplice, Dayneisha Lavonne Hill, 28, of Sherwood, who was arrested on the same felony theft charge as well as two felony counts of first-degree criminal mischief, is set for a disposition hearing on July 10. She was released on $600 bail the same day as her arrest.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on Oct. 6, around 11:15 a.m., Hot Springs police Officer Zach Brown was on patrol in the parking lot of Hot Springs Mall, 4501 Central Ave., when he saw two women run out of J.C. Penney's carrying a large amount of clothing.
He noted the clothing was not in store bags, still on the hangers and several items were being dropped as the women ran through the parking lot. The women reportedly shoved the clothing into a black 2014 Chevrolet Malibu and jumped in as Brown approached.
Brown activated his lights and pulled in front of the Malibu to block their escape. As he opened his driver's door to begin issuing commands for the women to get out, the driver, later identified as Hill, put the car in drive and rammed the front of Brown's patrol unit before fleeing through the lot. Damage to the unit was estimated at $1,000.
Hill allegedly continued through the lot striking a parked 2009 Toyota Venza, causing an estimated $5,000 in damages, before attempting to pull onto Central, headed north. Hill's vehicle was blocked by a citizen in a large work truck.
Brown used his loudspeaker to order the driver to turn off the car and at that point, both women jumped out and fled on foot north on Central. He pursued them on foot and caught up to the passenger, identified as Lyons, who complied with his order to get on the ground.
Hill was reportedly only a few steps ahead of Lyons and continued to run until Brown warned her he would use his Taser and she finally got on the ground. Both women were taken into custody without further incident.
Lyons initially gave a false name to Brown when asked, but was later identified. The total value of the clothing stolen was estimated at $2,880.
Local on 06/16/2018