BENTON - A prosecutor upgraded the charge against Saline County Sheriff Bruce Pennington on Friday to resisting arrest.
Pennington was previously charged with refusal to submit to arrest, a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to three months in jail and a $1,000 fine. The new charge is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $2,500 fine, said Cody Hiland, who is handling the case as a special prosecutor.
Benton police arrested Pennington on June 29 at Denton’s Trotline, a local bar and grill, after someone called 911 and reported an intoxicated man getting into his vehicle.
Pennington also is charged with public intoxication.
Hiland said he upgraded the charge because Pennington is accused of taking a swing at an officer and pushing the officer.
Pennington is scheduled to enter a plea in District Court in Bentonat 2 p.m. Monday.
Arkansas, Pages 10 on 08/24/2013