A local man was sentenced to 90 years in prison Tuesday after a two-day trial for invading a man's home last summer and beating him unconscious, leaving him with possibly permanent injuries.
Andre Leonard Flowers, 36, who has remained in custody on zero bond since his arrest Aug. 15, 2017, after a two-hour standoff with Hot Springs police, was found guilty of aggravated residential burglary and sentenced to 60 years in prison, and of first-degree battery and sentenced to 30 years, with the sentences to run consecutively for a total of 90 years.
The nine-man, three-woman Garland County Circuit Court jury deliberated for only 25 minutes before finding Flowers guilty of both charges and "about the same length of time" before recommending the sentences, Deputy Prosecutor Ron Jones said Thursday.
Flowers' accomplice, Jeremy Douglas James, 36, was set to stand trial beginning Wednesday on the same charges but opted to plead guilty that morning to the charge of first-degree battery while the aggravated residential burglary charge was withdrawn. After a one-day hearing, a six-man, six-woman jury sentenced him to 15 years in prison.
James was arrested July 26, 2017, after a brief standoff and had remained in custody until May 16, when he was released on $75,000 bond. Jones said he withdrew a motion to classify James, who had two prior convictions for breaking or entering and possession of a firearm by certain persons, as a habitual offender in exchange for his plea since they were both nonviolent offenses.
Flowers, formerly of Las Vegas, was convicted as a habitual offender, having been previously convicted in 2009 of conspiracy to commit robbery, and in 2013 of battery by strangulation, both in Las Vegas.
Jones noted there was medical evidence presented during the trial Monday that indicated the victim, 40, had been strangled to the point of unconsciousness, causing brain injuries. Jones said the victim, who has no memory of the attack, testified how his life has been "altered forever" by the injuries he sustained.
"He explained to the jury what his life was like before and after what happened," Jones said, noting the injuries left the victim in a condition "very similar to having a stroke." He said he has trouble speaking and walks with a cane because of partial paralysis on his left side. A neurosurgeon also testified at trial about the extent of the victim's injuries.
Jones said Flowers did not testify during the guilt phase of his trial because the prosecution could have presented his prior convictions, but did testify during the sentencing phase. "He basically apologized to the victim for what happened," he said. "We don't know exactly what happened inside (the home), but there were witnesses who saw what happened outside."
Jones said he didn't know for certain what happened, but felt Flowers was "the primary actor" in the attack.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on June 22, 2017, police responded to the apartments at 2000 Central Ave. in reference to a disturbance and arrived to find the victim unconscious and struggling to breathe, lying in the hallway outside his apartment.
A witness at the scene told officers the victim had been arguing with a white man and black man outside the apartment. At one point, the victim turned to walk back inside his apartment and was quickly followed by both suspects. Moments later, both suspects "hurriedly fled the scene" and left in a white minivan.
Later that day, detectives spoke with the victim's girlfriend, who was reportedly present during the incident. She said the victim argued with a known suspect, identified as Flowers.
She said Flowers pulled out a knife during the altercation and the victim grabbed one, too, to defend himself. After the two "exchanged words," the victim turned to walk back inside. At that point, Flowers "rushed" him, pushing him inside and striking him about his head and face.
The victim was transported to an area hospital with numerous injuries, including a contusion near his left eye, which was swollen shut, and bruising along the center of his neck.
A CT scan revealed the victim sustained bleeding on the brain, swelling in his neck and there were preliminary indications of a lack of oxygen to the brain.
The victim's mother later told police her son would most likely have to go into a long-term assisted living facility due to the brain damage.
Warrants were issued for Flowers and James who was arrested on July 26 after a brief standoff with SWAT team members at a mobile home in the 100 block of Ward Street.
Flowers was arrested Aug. 15 after a two-hour standoff with police at his listed residence on Lawson Street, that prompted the evacuation of a nearby day care as a precaution. After Flowers ignored repeated commands to come out, SWAT members introduced several flash-bangs into the house and then tear gas and he finally surrendered.
Local on 09/28/2018