FAYETTEVILLE — A judge said he will rule before trial if blood evidence found on clothes and a car and statements made to police can be used at the trial of a woman charged with being an accomplice to capital murder and kidnapping in the December 2012 murder of Ronnie Lee Bradley outside Prairie Grove.
Heather Carlene Swain, 36, faces life in prison if convicted on the murder charge and 10 to 40 years or life on the kidnapping charge. Swain faces an additional charge of tampering with evidence and, if convicted, faces up to six years and a fine of up to $10,000.
Prosecutors recently took the death penalty off the table in Swain’s case, making moot most of the 40-odd motions filed on Swain’s behalf because they were challenging the state’s death penalty statutes.
Bill James, Swain’s defense attorney, filed motions to suppress her statement to police, saying it was illegally obtained because she wasn't properly advised of her rights. James is asking to suppress evidence from cellphones, a vehicle and Swain’s home, claiming consent wasn't obtained prior to the search.
James also filed a motion seeking to prohibit or limit prosecutor’s use of pictures of Bradley’s body. Other motions address issues such as jury selection.
Washington County Circuit Judge William Storey said Friday he will have at least one more hearing on motions before Swain’s Jan. 13 trial.
Bradley, 48, was severely beaten. His body was found the morning of Dec. 27 in the driveway of 17409 Four Corners Road, near the intersection of Greasy Valley Road in rural southwest Washington County.
Two co-conspirators pleaded guilty in the case, avoiding the death penalty.
Timothy William Swinford, 37, pleaded guilty last month to accomplice to first-degree murder and kidnapping. Storey sentenced Swinford to 80 years at the Arkansas Department of Correction with 30 years suspended. He will have to serve 35 years before becoming eligible for parole. He was given credit for 360 days jail time served.
Anthony Swinford, 35, pleaded guilty in November to his role in Bradley’s killing and was sentenced to two consecutive 40-year terms at the Arkansas Department of Correction.
James Patton, 35, is also charged with accomplice to capital murder and kidnapping. Prosecutors have waived the death penalty in Patton’s case.
Anthony Swinford identified Swain, Patton and Timothy Swinford as accomplices.
Anthony Swinford said the four beat Bradley repeatedly at different places across southwest Washington County and he left the body in the driveway.