BENTONVILLE — Prosecutors filed formal charges Friday against two men for their alleged roles in killing and then disposing of 54-year-old Billy Ray Buckley's body.
Clifford Dale Casteel, 33, of Rogers, is charged with murder in the second degree, a class A felony, which is punishable with a prison sentence ranging from six to 30 years. Casteel is accused of causing Buckley's death by hitting and kicking him in the head and torso.
Timothy Sylvester Howell, 26, of Rogers, is charged with hindering apprehension or prosecution, a class B felony, which is punishable from five to 20 years in prison. Howell is accused of providing the transportation and helping Casteel dispose of the body in an isolated area near Necessary Road.
Benton County Prosecutor Van Stone previously said Buckley died from trauma to the head andtorso.
Both men were arrested Aug. 28.
On Aug. 20, Buckley's daughter, Tara Thurman, and his girlfriend, Cheri Banning, reported that Buckley, who is from Sapulpa, Okla., had been missing for more than a week, according to court documents.
Buckley was last seen Aug. 8 at Casteel's residence. Police began looking for Casteel to question him.
Casteel told police he didn't intend to kill Buckley; that he only hit and kicked him after Buckley struckhim.
Casteel claims he then borrowed a car and, with Howell's assistance, took Buckley's body to the Necessary Road site and dumped the body.
Howell claims he didn't handle the body but drove to the location, court documents state. Howell claims Casteel threatened his family if Howell didn't help him. After they arrived at the scene, Howell got out of the car and ran home, according to an affidavit in the case.
Casteel and Howell are scheduled to appear in court Monday morningfor their arraignments before Circuit Judge David Clinger.
Howell was released from Benton County Jail after posting a $75,000 bond.
Casteel is being held in jail in lieu of $150,000 bond.
News, Pages 3 on 09/26/2009