A local felon on parole was arrested early Wednesday outside a local motel after witnesses reported seeing him in the parking lot with a gun.
David Ray Nesmith, 25, who lists a Ross Street address, was taken into custody shortly after 3:30 a.m. at the Economy Inn, 805 E. Grand Ave., and charged with a felony count of possession of a firearm by certain persons, punishable by up to six years in prison, and a misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance, marijuana, punishable by up to one year in jail.
Nesmith was being held on a zero bond parole hold and was set to appear Wednesday in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly before 3 a.m., Hot Springs police responded to the Economy Inn regarding a white male in the parking lot with a gun.
Upon arrival, they found Nesmith standing at the northwest corner of the building and he started to walk away. They asked him multiple times to stop, but he allegedly continued walking and "began beating on multiple motel room doors."
Officers were finally able to detain Nesmith and Officer 1st Class Wes Smith noted Nesmith had a revolver sticking out of his jacket pocket with "the hammer pulled back." He removed the gun and determined it was loaded with four .32-caliber rounds.
A further search of his person uncovered a bag of marijuana, 1.3 grams, in his pants pocket.
According to court records, on June 11, 2018, Nesmith pleaded guilty in Garland County Circuit Court to three felony counts of second-degree forgery and one felony count of theft of property over $1,000 and was sentenced to eight years in prison on each count, to run concurrently.
Once at the jail, Nesmith was asked if he had a medical marijuana card and he reportedly admitted he did not.
Local on 05/14/2020