MAGNOLIA - Two defendants in the November 2011 horse thefts at Southern Arkansas University still have charges pending in Oklahoma, according to a report from the McCurtain County Court clerk’s office in Idabel, Okla.
Jaci Rae Jackson is charged in Oklahoma with second-degree arson, bringing stolen property into the state, knowingly concealing stolen property and cruelty to animals. She appeared in court in McCurtain County on June 3, but no plea was entered.
Her case was set for a jury trial on Aug. 19.
In Columbia County, Jackson pleaded guilty April 4 to six counts conspiracy to commit theft of property before Circuit Judge Larry Chandler. Sentencing was delayed, and her next court date there is July 18.
Jackson’s mother, WendiCox, was convicted in a March 27 jury trial in El Dorado of theft of property over $25,000, theft of property over $5,000 and theft of property over $1,000.
She was sentenced to 60 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction and is now held at the McPherson Unit in Newport, according to the agency’s inmate search.
Cox’s last court date in Oklahoma was April 1, and a failure to appear warrant was issued. She is currently charged in Oklahoma with second-degree arson, cruelty to animals, knowingly concealing stolen property and conspiracy to commit a felony.
The Texarkana Gazette reported recently that Cox rejected a plea offer in Mayfrom Little River County, where she was charged in the theft of 15 heifers worth more than $10,000 in October 2011. Further information was not immediately available from the Little River County circuit clerk’s office.
William Webster “Billy” Hamilton appeared in an Oklahoma court May 8 and pleaded guilty to transporting stolen property into the state, knowingly concealing stolen property, cruelty to animals and possession of firearm after a former felony conviction. He was sentenced to five years in prison on each count for a total of 20 years to run concurrently with terms being served in Arkansas.
Hamilton pleaded guilty tofour counts theft of property over $5,000, two counts theft of property over $25,000 and being a habitual offender on April 4 in Columbia County Circuit Court. He was sentenced to a total of 30 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction and is now held at the East Arkansas Regional Unit in Brickeys
George Berrish III was given immunity from prosecution in Oklahoma. However, Berrish was serving a sentence on cattle-theft charges from Little River County when he pleaded guilty in April to one theft count in Columbia County.
Information for this article was contributed by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Northwest Arkansas, Pages 11 on 06/21/2013