A habitual offender with 17 prior felony convictions was sentenced to eight years in prison Tuesday after pleading guilty in Garland County Circuit Court to the theft of a pickup truck last year in Hot Springs Village.
Benjamin Ray Hopkins, 41, who lists a Sherwood address, pleaded guilty to theft by receiving more than $5,000, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, and was sentenced to eight years and ordered to pay $170 in court costs.
Hopkins was previously convicted in 1994 of theft by receiving and in 1997 of theft of property and two counts of aggravated robbery, all in Pulaski County; in 2003 of second-degree battery in Jefferson County; in 2013 of theft of property and theft by receiving, both in Perry County; in 2013 of possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance and theft of property, all in Stone County; in 2013 of theft of property, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and two counts of theft by receiving, all in Faulkner County; and in 2015 for theft by receiving and fleeing in a vehicle causing danger, both in Faulkner County.
According to the probable cause affidavit on the theft by receiving charge, on June 16, 2017, shortly before 7 p.m. Hot Springs Village police dispatch received a "Be on the Lookout" from the Arkansas State Police regarding a black 2012 Ford F-250 pickup stolen out of Saline County that was last seen southbound on Highway 298 headed toward the area of Hot Springs Village.
Officer Dallis Downey and Sgt. Jack Hendon responded to the west gate area on Highway 7 and Hendon spotted a pickup matching the description at the red light. He passed it and confirmed the license plate matched that of the stolen vehicle and turned around.
He noted the truck was being driven by a white male, later identified as Hopkins, and eventually got behind it and activated his lights to make a traffic stop. Hopkins turned onto Fish Net Road and acted like he was going to stop, but then accelerated up the hill.
Hopkins was stopped a short time later by a metal gate and Hendon and Downey ordered him out of the truck at gunpoint. He complied and got out and down on the ground and was taken into custody without incident.
Hopkins asked the officers to "rough him up" because "he knew he would spend the rest of his life in prison." He stated several times he knew what he did and that he was going back to prison.
Hopkins later told Hendon he knew the truck was stolen but he had got it from a friend by trading drugs for it. The value of the truck was approximately $20,000.
Hopkins was arrested and was released on Aug. 8, 2017, on $4,750 bond. He pleaded not guilty to the charge on Sept. 5, 2017, and later failed to appear at a disposition hearing in circuit court on Aug. 14. A warrant was issued for his arrest and he was taken into custody three days later and has remained in custody since then on zero bond.
Local on 09/06/2018