BENTONVILLE -- Kathryn Hackett admitted she took photos of jail inmates in court and posted them on her Facebook page.
That act led to Circuit Judge Brad Karren to find Hackett, 19, of Springdale in contempt of court. Karren sentenced her to five days in the Benton County Jail.
Legal Lingo
Electronic Devices
A portion of Arkansas Supreme Court Administrative Order states: “Electronic devices shall not be used in the courtroom to broadcast, record, photograph, e-mail, blog, tweet, text, post or transmit by any means except as may be allowed by the court.”
Source: Staff Report
A Rogers police detective saw the images on Hackett's Facebook page and notified Karren. One photograph showed five inmates sitting in the jury box in Karren's courtroom. The photograph was posted on Hackett's Facebook page at 10:21 a.m. May 27. Security video shows Hackett, with her cellphone, entering the courtroom May 27, according to court documents.
Karren issued a summons for Hackett to appear in court Thursday.
Danny Monjure, Karren's bailiff, routinely tells audience members to turn off their cellphones before court starts. He now warns them not to use their cellphone cameras in court.
"It's the dumbest thing she's done in her life at this point," said Jay Saxton, chief public defender. "She's just a young, dumb kid."
Saxton recently was appointed to Hackett's criminal case. He described her as "immature."
Saxton told Karren he talked with Hackett and told her taking photographs was against court rules and doing so possibly could put people in danger because of security risks.
Hackett apologized for taking the photographs.
"I did not mean it as disrespect," Hackett said
Hackett thought she was doing those pictured a favor by posting the images to give people a chance to keep in contact with them via social media, Saxton said.
"It was a dumb mistake," Saxton said.
One of the photographs had the words "Free Cholo n nasty (best pic could get)" posted with it.
Hackett was arrested March 19. She's charged with delivery of methamphetamine, a Class B felony. She is accused of selling 2.2 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant for $240, according to court documents.
NW News on 07/18/2014