Can you imagine being stopped for speeding while legally carrying a CCW in this county?
Talk about being in danger....
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/storie...OL-?SITE=ARMOU&SECTION=STATE&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
Public corruption investigation in Lonoke could widen
By DANIEL CONNOLLY
Associated Press Writer
LONOKE, Ark. (AP) -- The arrests of Lonoke's mayor and police chief and allegations that the chief's wife took prisoners from the jail to have sex with them has up ended the small town, and the prosecutor said more arrests are possible.
So far, Police Chief Jay Campbell is accused of conspiring to make methamphetamine; his wife allegedly provided marijuana and alcohol to inmates and took prisoners to her husband's office and elsewhere to have sex, and the chief and Mayor Thomas Privett allegedly had state prisoners do work for them in violation of state law. Two other people also were arrested.
Assistant Police Chief Sean O'Nale said the charges have shaken morale, but the department will go forward.
"We've just got a tough time ahead of us right now," said O'Nale, who is acting as interim chief while Campbell is suspended with pay.
"It's just bad for Lonoke, you know, whether it's true or not," real estate broker Charlie Knox said.
Not surprisingly in a city of 4,287, Knox knew some of the people involved.
"I think the mayor probably got roped into that," he said. "I know the chief and his wife have been real good to my mother, they're neighbors over there. And they haven't been anything but nice."
The five were arrested Monday and freed on bond. The mayor continued his normal duties Tuesday and called a special city council meeting for Wednesday evening to deal with personnel issues.
Prosecutor Lona McCastlain said at a news conference Tuesday that her work is continuing.
"This investigation is ongoing and the state has not ruled out that there may be additional charges filed and that there may be additional suspects," McCastlain said.
The chief said he was wrongly accused and, through lawyers, the others said they were innocent.
Privett, Campbell, his wife Kelly Harrison Campbell, bondsman Bobby Junior Cox, and Larry Gene Norwood were arrested on numerous counts.
Privett was charged with misdemeanor theft of services. An Arkansas State Police affidavit says he used state prisoners to do work at his home, including fixing an air conditioner and hanging Christmas lights. The chief also allegedly had prisoners install a sidewalk from his house to a swimming pool. The two are accused of violating a state program that allows for housing state inmates in local jails.
Campbell and his wife allegedly stole antique jewelry from a home and pawned it. Kelly Campbell faces escape-related charges for allegedly taking two inmates out of the jail to have sex with her at ballparks, the chief's office, and a hotel. She also is charged with residential burglary, theft and bringing prohibited items into a jail.
The chief, Cox and Norwood also were accused of taking part in a conspiracy to make methamphetamine and use it to frame someone else. An affidavit in the case says a man named Ronald Adams made a deal with the chief to cook meth and deliver it to a man named Roger Light, whom officers would then arrest. They would then pressure him to help them find a fugitive who owed money for bail bonds. In return, police would drop pending charges against Adams, according to the affidavit.
Adams became angry when he carried out his part of the plan and police didn't agree to drop pending charges against him, the affidavit said. Adams told investigators that at a meeting with Campbell, Norwood and Cox, he was told he should stay quiet and that people could "end up dead."
In October, Adams was beaten badly enough to be hospitalized and no one was arrested, according to the affidavit.
McCastlain said she was contacted about six months ago by Arkansas Department of Corrections and told that the department had requested a state police investigation into allegations regarding the prison work release program in Lonoke. She said she was told the investigation had to do with drugs, but it widened to include other accusations.
"The prosecutor's office works hand in hand with law enforcement. And it is a very sad day, it is a very disturbing day, when we have to file charges against law enforcement," McCastlain said.
She dismissed criticism that the investigation was politically motivated.
"This case was investigated on its merits and it will be prosecuted on its merits," she said.
Ralph Cloar of Little Rock, an attorney for the mayor, said he has known Privett for decades and Privett is a law-abiding citizen.
"I think when all the facts come out everyone will see that it's just a minor situation that some jury will have to determine even if it was misdemeanor criminal conduct," he said.
The police chief told reporters Monday that the charges were false.
Attorney Mark Hampton, who is representing the police chief, said, "We are going to defend every allegation and every count as vigorously as we can."
Privett's arraignment was scheduled for April 3. The others are to be arraigned March 13
Talk about being in danger....
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/storie...OL-?SITE=ARMOU&SECTION=STATE&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
Public corruption investigation in Lonoke could widen
By DANIEL CONNOLLY
Associated Press Writer
LONOKE, Ark. (AP) -- The arrests of Lonoke's mayor and police chief and allegations that the chief's wife took prisoners from the jail to have sex with them has up ended the small town, and the prosecutor said more arrests are possible.
So far, Police Chief Jay Campbell is accused of conspiring to make methamphetamine; his wife allegedly provided marijuana and alcohol to inmates and took prisoners to her husband's office and elsewhere to have sex, and the chief and Mayor Thomas Privett allegedly had state prisoners do work for them in violation of state law. Two other people also were arrested.
Assistant Police Chief Sean O'Nale said the charges have shaken morale, but the department will go forward.
"We've just got a tough time ahead of us right now," said O'Nale, who is acting as interim chief while Campbell is suspended with pay.
"It's just bad for Lonoke, you know, whether it's true or not," real estate broker Charlie Knox said.
Not surprisingly in a city of 4,287, Knox knew some of the people involved.
"I think the mayor probably got roped into that," he said. "I know the chief and his wife have been real good to my mother, they're neighbors over there. And they haven't been anything but nice."
The five were arrested Monday and freed on bond. The mayor continued his normal duties Tuesday and called a special city council meeting for Wednesday evening to deal with personnel issues.
Prosecutor Lona McCastlain said at a news conference Tuesday that her work is continuing.
"This investigation is ongoing and the state has not ruled out that there may be additional charges filed and that there may be additional suspects," McCastlain said.
The chief said he was wrongly accused and, through lawyers, the others said they were innocent.
Privett, Campbell, his wife Kelly Harrison Campbell, bondsman Bobby Junior Cox, and Larry Gene Norwood were arrested on numerous counts.
Privett was charged with misdemeanor theft of services. An Arkansas State Police affidavit says he used state prisoners to do work at his home, including fixing an air conditioner and hanging Christmas lights. The chief also allegedly had prisoners install a sidewalk from his house to a swimming pool. The two are accused of violating a state program that allows for housing state inmates in local jails.
Campbell and his wife allegedly stole antique jewelry from a home and pawned it. Kelly Campbell faces escape-related charges for allegedly taking two inmates out of the jail to have sex with her at ballparks, the chief's office, and a hotel. She also is charged with residential burglary, theft and bringing prohibited items into a jail.
The chief, Cox and Norwood also were accused of taking part in a conspiracy to make methamphetamine and use it to frame someone else. An affidavit in the case says a man named Ronald Adams made a deal with the chief to cook meth and deliver it to a man named Roger Light, whom officers would then arrest. They would then pressure him to help them find a fugitive who owed money for bail bonds. In return, police would drop pending charges against Adams, according to the affidavit.
Adams became angry when he carried out his part of the plan and police didn't agree to drop pending charges against him, the affidavit said. Adams told investigators that at a meeting with Campbell, Norwood and Cox, he was told he should stay quiet and that people could "end up dead."
In October, Adams was beaten badly enough to be hospitalized and no one was arrested, according to the affidavit.
McCastlain said she was contacted about six months ago by Arkansas Department of Corrections and told that the department had requested a state police investigation into allegations regarding the prison work release program in Lonoke. She said she was told the investigation had to do with drugs, but it widened to include other accusations.
"The prosecutor's office works hand in hand with law enforcement. And it is a very sad day, it is a very disturbing day, when we have to file charges against law enforcement," McCastlain said.
She dismissed criticism that the investigation was politically motivated.
"This case was investigated on its merits and it will be prosecuted on its merits," she said.
Ralph Cloar of Little Rock, an attorney for the mayor, said he has known Privett for decades and Privett is a law-abiding citizen.
"I think when all the facts come out everyone will see that it's just a minor situation that some jury will have to determine even if it was misdemeanor criminal conduct," he said.
The police chief told reporters Monday that the charges were false.
Attorney Mark Hampton, who is representing the police chief, said, "We are going to defend every allegation and every count as vigorously as we can."
Privett's arraignment was scheduled for April 3. The others are to be arraigned March 13
