A local man accused in the beating death of another man earlier this year pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a felony count of first-degree murder in Garland County Circuit Court.
Terry Eugene Hughes, 55, who has remained in custody in lieu of $150,000 bond since his arrest the day of the alleged murder on April 14, could face up to life in prison if convicted in the death of Joshua David Buck, 43, who was found deceased inside his apartment at 307 Oakcliff St.
A hearing to determine the admissibility of any statements Hughes made to Hot Springs police after his arrest is now set for Sept. 15. Judge Marcia Hearnsberger issued a gag order Tuesday limiting pretrial publicity in the case.
Hughes, who lists no prior felony history, pleaded guilty on June 8 to a misdemeanor count of driving while intoxicated stemming from his arrest on March 27. He was sentenced to one year in jail and ordered to be assessed through Ouachita Behavioral Health and Wellness and to complete a MADD victim impact panel after his release.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on April 14, around 10:30 a.m., Hughes called 911 dispatch and stated there was a dead body at the apartment he was at on Oakcliff Street, but he didn't know the exact address.
Dispatchers determined Hughes was calling from the upstairs apartment at 207 Oakcliff and officers responded to the location. Before officers got there, Hughes allegedly told the dispatcher he knew the victim was dead because he had hit him in the head with a baseball bat.
When officers arrived, Hughes allegedly told them he had hit "Joshua" in the head with the bat and "kept hitting him with it."
Buck was located in his bedroom with obvious trauma to the back of his head and no signs of life. He was pronounced dead a short time later by Garland County Coroner Stuart Smedley who noted it appeared Buck had been deceased for a couple of hours prior to Hughes calling 911.
Detectives reportedly located a bloody bat in Buck's bedroom and blood spatter in the apartment indicated there were "numerous blows to the head while the victim was on the floor," the affidavit states.
Suspected blood was also seen on Hughes' socks and pants at the time of his arrest.