A local man who allegedly threatened his wife and her children was arrested Thursday night on multiple felony charges after drugs and guns were reportedly found in his house.
Paul Robert Cutler, 69, of 126 Gray Circle, who is a convicted felon, was taken into custody at his residence around 9:45 p.m. and charged with simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, punishable by up to life in prison, two counts of possession of a firearm by certain persons, punishable by up to 20 years, possession of a controlled substance, marijuana, with purpose to deliver, punishable by up to 10 years, and possession of drug paraphernalia, punishable by up to six years.
Cutler was initially being held on zero bond and appeared via video Friday afternoon in Garland County District Court where he pleaded not guilty to the charges. Judge Joe Graham set his bond at $25,000 and Cutler was later released, with a felony review hearing now set for July 8.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Hot Springs police responded to the Gray Circle residence shortly before 9:30 p.m. in reference to a threatening call and upon arrival were met by Cutler's wife, 43, in the front yard of the residence.
She reportedly appeared "very upset, afraid and crying," and stated Cutler had threatened to burn the house down with her and her children inside. She noted the children were hiding in a bedroom closet.
Cpl. Mike Brown went inside the residence to check on the children and while inside noticed a "very strong odor of marijuana." He asked the wife if anyone had been smoking marijuana inside the house and she said, "Yes, Paul had been smoking." She said the marijuana was upstairs in their bedroom.
Brown followed her to the master bedroom and she walked to a black desk and opened the desk door where Brown saw a Rubbermaid container containing "a large amount" of marijuana, approximately 16.24 ounces.
At that point, Cutler was taken into custody for possession of marijuana. Brown obtained consent to search from the wife. He allegedly found another clear rubber container with marijuana residue, a box of sandwich bags, four large baggies, a set of digital scales and a sealed bag with marijuana residue.
In a nightstand near the bed, Brown reportedly found a pistol case containing a .40-caliber pistol, magazine and 10 cartridges. Another pistol case located on the dresser reportedly contained a .45-caliber handgun, two .45-caliber pistol magazines and 11 cartridges.
A criminal history check revealed Cutler was convicted in 2005 in Osage Beach, Mo., of three felony counts of sale or possession of equipment or parts and two felony counts of theft of property so he was prohibited from owning or possessing any firearms.
Court records show Cutler's wife was issued an order of protection on Feb. 26 for herself and her two children, ages 9 and 14, against Cutler. She withdrew the petition on March 8 and the order was dismissed. On Friday, his wife filed a petition for a new order of protection against Cutler.
Local on 05/18/2019