The Arkansas Justice Project

Murderer of Laurie Troup Arrested Yet Again

Buckle Up!

Derrick Xavier Shields (Cred: Mississippi County Jail Roster)

Derrick Xavier Shields was convicted of Capital Murder and Aggravated Robbery in the 1999 shooting death of Laurie Troup. Troup worked as a clerk at Movie Magic, a video store in Blytheville. Shields and two other subjects had a brief exchange with Laurie before Shields shot her in the face with a sawed off .410 shotgun. Shields was subsequently sentenced to life in prison.

However, the US Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that sentencing a juvenile to life in prison was unconstitutional citing the 8th Amendment prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment.

Since then, Shields has been released. In July of 2020 Shields was pulled over while driving at night without his lights on. Officers stated that Shields appeared nervous and was reaching for something between the seats. After forcing him from the vehicle they located a .9 mm handgun with a bullet in the magazine under the driver’s seat where he was reaching.

Shields was then charged with Possession of a Firearm by Certain Persons, Refusal to Submit to Arrest, Obstructing Governmental Operations, and No Vehicle Lights at Night. In spite of his violent history, Shields was released on a $25,000 bond to await trial. Trial was set to start in May of 2021.

Yesterday, April 15th, Shields was arrested yet again on a parole violation. This time he is being charged with Sexual Assault in the 2nd Degree.

Sure, we know that not every person released early from prison will reoffend. But it’s pretty damn close. Arkansas is 4th highest in the Country for recidivism rates. According to an Arkansas Department of Corrections report on findings from 2013, the recidivism rate is 58.21% over three years for those released on parole and 24.39% for those who discharged their sentence. Males had a higher recidivism rate of 57.65%, and females had a rate of 48.21%.

Who pays the price for this? Women and children. Every damn time. We struggle to protect ourselves. We struggle to obtain Orders of Protection. In Arkansas you have two options for “paper protection.” You may attempt to obtain a Domestic Order of Protection through your Circuit Court in your county. You may also receive a criminal no contact order IF you are able to file charges against your abuser. A Domestic Order of Protection is only granted to those that are related to and/or were in a romantic relationship with their abuser. This leaves out a LOT of victims.

According to Statista Research, Arkansas had the second highest rape rate in the country for 2019 at 77.2 cases of forcible rape per 100,000 people. From 2018 to 2019 the rape rate in Arkansas rose 4 points.

The rate of domestic violence against women in Arkansas is 35.6%. That means that literally over 1 in 3 women in Arkansas have experienced domestic violence.

So what will Derrick Shield’s bond be? Will he be allowed back out on the streets to hurt someone else? And when will we as a state do anything about our atrocious rates of violence against women?

What’s All the Fuss About?

Local Drug Dealer and Neo Nazi Finally Busted

Christopher Williams was picked up by Conway Police on Wednesday after an extensive investigation and a search warrant inventory that would rival the Walmart Pharmacy. He faces 12 charges so far including 11 felonies and 1 misdemeanor. Williams will also be facing sentencing enhancements for operating a trap house next to a drug treatment facility and a bus stop.

Williams mostly dabbled in party drugs. He sold MDMA, Mushrooms, LSD, various pills, and Cannabis through the App SnapChat. “Doc420” was his screen name and he would post pictures of his available inventory on his Snap story publicly so that anyone had access. Williams got reckless at some point and began allowing strangers to come to his apartment on Willow Street in Conway. One of those strangers would inevitably snitch him out to save his own skin. Soon the police were making buys off of Williams, including Xanax and Oxycodone.

Inventory of the Search Warrant Executed at Williams’ apartment

Chander Williams was picked up in September of 2020 after a US Postal Inspector alerted police to a package containing drugs being shipped to a, “CJ” at an apartment on Dave Ward Drive. Police executed a search warrant on the apartment and located Codeine, MDMA, Xanax, digital scales, a stolen gun, cannabis in various forms, and Hale’s belongings throughout the apartment.

Hale told police he sells marijuana in large quantities, at least a half pound each time. He admitted to having guns in the apartment and quickly named his source, Williams. Hale told the Postal Inspector that all of the drugs in his apartment and the drugs from the package belonged to Williams.

Williams has little to no recourse to get himself out of this one. Just like he told police, “…he could not help himself out because he was the guy in Conway that everyone would come to to purchase drugs.” It’s a lonely spot there at the top of a multi-state drug ring.

Speaking of multi-state drug ring: will this go federal? Listed on the search warrant inventory filed March 5th in the Circuit Court of Faulkner County was an Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Card. Has Williams been running drugs across state lines? It certainly appears that way. Even if he wasn’t transporting the drugs physically himself he was clearly utilizing the postal service to move drugs across state lines.

Of course as we have been reading the various posts about Williams and the inevitable comments about how he was just selling a little pot and, “there goes the weekend!” we couldn’t help but wonder if anyone would be reporting on the fact that Williams is a known member of a Neo Nazi hate group, the Shield Wall Network run by Billy Roper. Most folks involved in the activism scene in Arkansas know that Roper and SWN have basically become a non-issue since their members were convicted in the beating of a child predator in Pope County in 2019. Maybe that’s why Williams couldn’t pay his bills on his Walmart salary anymore. It’s got to be hard to grift from your people when all your dudes are scared to show up.

When discussing a federal prosecution for a multi-state drug ring involving a neo nazi gang like the Shield Wall Network we have to wonder, is this a RICO case? The Racketeer Influenced and Corruption Organizations Act allows for stiffer criminal and civil penalties for criminal acts arising as part of a criminal organization. So the question at this point is, was Williams using his gang affiliation to move drugs? And if he was, who else is involved?

Williams has made it obvious he won’t be snitching anyone out but what about the phone dump? Will it provide insight into these other criminal issues? Are the police investigating SWN? And where will Conway get their party drugs now?

New Charges for Burchett

Original Story HERE

Tyler Brock Burchett is currently in the Pope County Detention Center being held on charges of Terroristic Threatening, Harassing Communications, Failure to Appear, and probation revocation. Circuit Judge James Dunham signed a probable cause order for the issuance of a warrant for Burchett’s arrest on an addition FIVE charges of harassment today in Pope County. According to the jail roster his bond is $225,000.

Court Connect shows Burchett’s charges to be Forgery and Theft of Services but the Criminal Information Sheet shows 5 charges of Harassing Communications so at this time we do not know if the Forgery and Theft of Services are a mistake in the system or also part of this case.

According to the Probable Cause Order the State has requested a cash bond of $2,500 and a commercial bond of $10,000. The Court did not determine Burchett to be indigent because he is employed as a plumber and therefore will not be appointing a public defender to represent him.

We can only hope these latest charges will ensure Burchett stays in jail where he belongs.

ARKANSAS WOMEN SAFE AS PROLIFIC ABUSER REMAINS LOCKED UP

Tyler Brock Burchett has been in the Pope County Detention Center since January 30th of 2021 and we are ALL safer for it. Burchett has a way of weaseling out of his responsibilities and criminal charges but upon reading the NINTH Amended Petition for Revocation filed in his latest criminal case, we actually feel confident that Burchett may end up where he belongs: PRISON.

From the Petition: “On 2/11/19, The Defendant was convicted of the crime of AGGRAVATED ASSAULT ON FAMILY OR HOUSEHOLD MEMBER and was sentenced to probation for 60 months…the Defendant has failed to comply with the above conditions, to-wit:

1.) On 4/18/2020, Burchett attacked a pregnant woman during a domestic violence altercation resulting in her injury.

2.) On 4/20/2020, Burchett violated a domestic order of protection that prohibited him from contacting the victim by calling her 13 times.

3.) on 4/21/2020, Burchett was charged with two counts of TERRORISTIC THREATENING, 2ND DEGREE

4.) On 4/27/2020 Burchett again violated the domestic order of protection by contacting his victim yet again.

5.) On 4/29/2020 Burchett reached out to his probation officer regarding the arrest warrants for his above conduct. When his PO told Burchett he needed to turn himself in, Burchett told his PO that he had a passport and could outrun the “fat pigs.” When his PO explained the revocation process Burchett complained that the process was not going to work for him because it was not convenient for him. He became belligerent and yelled profanities.

6.) Since August 25th, 2020 Burchett has missed 6 appointments with his probation officer.

7.) On 10/7/2020, Burchett showed up to his probation check in and refused to submit to a drug test.

8.) On 10/12/2020 Burchett was charged with felony fleeing and marijuana possession in Pope County.

9.) On 10/2/2020 Burchett once again violated the domestic order of protection by contacting his victim and threatening her.

10.) On 10/2/2020 Burchett added another criminal charge for failing to appear at court in Pope County.

11.) On 1/31/2021 Burchett was charged with TERRORISTIC THREATENING FIRST DEGREE and HARASSING COMMUNICATIONS in Pope County.

Burchett has already been convicted of battering and/or harassing at least two women. He was convicted of TERRORISTIC THREATENING in 2019 in Saline County. Saline County has also filed a Petition for Revocation that states that Burchett is behind on his fine payments by $1515.00 as of April of 2020. He also failed to show up for a scheduled domestic violence prevention class. (Imagine that!) Burchett prefers to strangle his victims. One report states he, “grabbed her from behind and choked her until she fell to the floor and could not breathe.” Another report states. “he hit her, grabbed her around the throat and made several threats to slit her throat and stab her.”

Burchett’s bond has been set at $225,000 and he remains in the Pope County Detention Center. As much as he throws his money around it’s probably just a matter of time before an enabling family member bonds him out.

If you or someone you know is a victim of Tyler Brock Burchett and would like to write a letter to the Arkansas Parole Board about why he should remain incarcerated, please contact us through our Facebook page.

PARENTS ACCUSED OF MURDER IN DEATH OF CHILD FOUND FIT TO STAND TRIAL

Crystal Morrow, 25 and Dustin Harley, 20 have been found fit to stand trial in the death of their six month old daughter, Kimberly.

Police were dispatched on the morning of September 27th, 2019 to a home in Miller County in reference to two infants who were having trouble breathing. Emergency responders were initially able to revive Kimberly but she passed away. Kimberly’s twin brother Jackson was sent to Wadley Hospital and then transferred to Arkansas Children’s Hospital by air.

Police proceeded with a walk-through of the home and described it as, “not suitable for a human being” with mildewed clothing piled high in every room and roaches crawling over every surface including the crib that Kimberly and Jackson slept in. They also found marijuana related drug paraphernalia in the home in reach of the children.

An autopsy was conducted on September 30th at the Arkansas State Crime Lab. The medical examiner’s report stated that Kimberly was extremely underweight and ranked less than the 5th percentile for her age. She was described as having “temporal muscle wasting and protrusion of the ribs.” The official cause of death for Kimberly was “dehydration due to neglect of care.”

A report from Arkansas Children’s Hospital described Jackson as, “visibly dehydrated with dry mucus membranes and cracked lips.” He was critically ill on admission and the cause of his severe hydration was said to be, “environmental and nutritional neglect.” Jackson had severe respiratory depression and Dr. Liza Murray noted that, “any caregiver in the home with Jackson and his twin would be expected to recognize that the child was sick and in need of immediate care.”

Jackson and his three surviving siblings have been placed in foster care.

Child Protective Services had been called to the residence after a report from Leslie Dixon with Early Childhood Special Education who went to the residence to check on the children because one had been pulled from school. Dixon called Child Protective Services because two of the children had been acting inappropriately at school but there was not enough information to investigate.

It is important to note that officers noted, “multiple full cans of formula and unopened baby food” throughout the home.

Morrow and Harley are currently out on bond awaiting trial. The Arkansas Supreme Court has suspended jury trials through the end of February due to Covid-19 so it is expected that this won’t head to trial any time soon.

YELL COUNTY SEARCH WARRANT DETAILS BRUTAL ATTACK

A search warrant (Case No. 75NSW-21-1 on Court Connect) filed in Yell County today by Captain Mark Frost details a brutal attack between roommates. David Espinosa allegedly became angry at his roommate for some unknown reason and began attacking him with a knife. The victim suffered defensive cuts to his hands and arms. When police arrived on the scene at North 8th Street in Dardanelle, the victim indicated that Espinosa was still inside the residence. Officers made contact with the suspect after forcing entry into the apartment. The suspect, still holding the large knife, had to be tased four times before he finally fell to the ground and dropped the knife. The inventory list from the returned warrant states that two DNA swabs and a large machete were taken as evidence from the apartment.

David Espinosa remains in the Yell County Detention Center on charges of Battery in the 1st Degree and Resisting Arrest. His bond has been set at $50,000.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

Local Former Prosecutor Facing Extensive Prison Time for Selling Drugs

Paul Fred Dumas and the old funeral home he operated out of.

A former city prosecutor from Conway County is facing trial on seven felony counts involving the sale of prescription drugs including Oxycodone and Adderall. Paul Fred Dumas was arrested in July and charged with several counts of Delivery of a Controlled Substance with enhancements for being within 1000 feet of a church or school. In total, Dumas faces over 100 years in prison.

Paul Dumas was the Morrilton City Attorney from 2013 until 2018. He was responsible for prosecuting all of the city misdemeanor cases. After Dumas was beat in the 2018 election, he became a Defense attorney for some of the same folks he was selling drugs to. Dumas practiced out of a beautiful old funeral home directly across the street from the County Courthouse. According to the affidavit for his arrest, he even used the funeral home for his part time drug business, telling his buyers they could pick their goodies up above the chapel door where they would be wrapped in a napkin and waiting.

Morrilton is the county seat in Conway County and contrary to popular belief, the city of Conway is actually located in Faulkner County. Dumas has widely been known to be somewhat of a controversial character in the county. In 2012 Dumas was arrested for domestic battery after his wife was seen by a passerby bleeding heavily from her face. Dumas claimed he left the home and when he returned his wife had injured herself in a fall. In reality, he had injured her in an altercation after she allegedly slapped sunglasses off of his face during an argument.

Because of Dumas’ obvious legal connections in the community, a special prosecutor was appointed to his case, Jack McQuary. We are hoping McQuary offers no plea deals and throws the book at him. It is absolutely unacceptable that Dumas was abusing his power to profit off of drug addicts and feed his own addiction. Also, according to the enhancements on several of his charges, Dumas felt it was okay to sell pills just 117 feet from the First Baptist Church in Morrilton.

ck_image-1-1 Download

Click to read the Affidavit for Dumas’ arrest in it’s entirety.

Trial has been tentatively set for January but with the pandemic ramping up it is likely the case will be continued. We will keep you updated as to the trial date.

Introduce Yourself (Example Post)

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.

You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click the “New Post” button, and tell us why you’re here.

Why do this?

Because it gives new readers context. What are you about? Why should they read your blog?
Because it will help you focus your own ideas about your blog and what you’d like to do with it.

The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.

To help you get started, here are a few questions:

Why are you blogging publicly, rather than keeping a personal journal?
What topics do you think you’ll write about?
Who would you love to connect with via your blog?
If you blog successfully throughout the next year, what would you hope to have accomplished?

You’re not locked into any of this; one of the wonderful things about blogs is how they constantly evolve as we learn, grow, and interact with one another — but it’s good to know where and why you started, and articulating your goals may just give you a few other post ideas.

Can’t think how to get started? Just write the first thing that pops into your head. Anne Lamott, author of a book on writing we love, says that you need to give yourself permission to write a “crappy first draft”. Anne makes a great point — just start writing, and worry about editing it later.

When you’re ready to publish, give your post three to five tags that describe your blog’s focus — writing, photography, fiction, parenting, food, cars, movies, sports, whatever. These tags will help others who care about your topics find you in the Reader. Make sure one of the tags is “zerotohero,” so other new bloggers can find you, too.

Introduce Yourself (Example Post)

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.

Why do this?

Because it gives new readers context. What are you about? Why should they read your blog?
Because it will help you focus your own ideas about your blog and what you’d like to do with it.

The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.

To help you get started, here are a few questions:

Why are you blogging publicly, rather than keeping a personal journal?
What topics do you think you’ll write about?
Who would you love to connect with via your blog?
If you blog successfully throughout the next year, what would you hope to have accomplished?

Introduce Yourself (Example Post)

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.

Why do this?

Because it gives new readers context. What are you about? Why should they read your blog?
Because it will help you focus your own ideas about your blog and what you’d like to do with it.

The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.

To help you get started, here are a few questions:

Why are you blogging publicly, rather than keeping a personal journal?
What topics do you think you’ll write about?
Who would you love to connect with via your blog?
If you blog successfully throughout the next year, what would you hope to have accomplished?