Hayes flees courthouse after guilty verdict

By Northwest Arkansas Times

Posted: September 24, 2009 at 7:14 p.m.

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FAYETTEVILLE — Terry Hayes, who was found guilty Thursday on charges stemming from threatening to kill his 15-year-old son, fled from the courthouse during sentencing and is currently at large.

A Washington County jury recommended a maximum sentence for Hayes, who was out on bond, of 55 years in prison and was no where to be found when sentencing was to take place. Sheriff's deputies said they last saw him around 6 p.m.

Hayes, 40, was on trial facing charges of aggravated assault on a family member, terroristic threatening, endangering the welfare of a minor and felon in possession of a firearm.

He also faced trial charges of intimidating a witness and terroristic threatening. Hayes is accused on June 23 of calling and threatening a witness.

The jury found him guilty on all counts.

Hayes is accused on Jan. 19 of threatening to kill his then-14-year-old son while holding a gun to his head while the two were at Hayes' residence on Black Oak Road outside of Fayetteville. They fled into the woods after hearing that sheriff's deputies were in route to the home and later went to Terry's Towing, then Hayes' Fayetteville towing business.

The trial before Washington County Circuit Judge William Storey began Wednesday.

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