Special prosecutor to decide whether to charge J.B. Hunt's son

A special prosecutor will decide by the end of month whether a criminal charge will be filed against the son of J.B. Hunt.

Johnnie Bryan Hunt Jr., 57, was arrested in connection with aggravated assault, a Class D felony, on June 3. The arrest was the result of an incident involving another motorist in Rogers.

Hunt’s arraignment was set for Monday, but neither he nor Ken Shemin, his attorney, was in court Monday morning.

Jason Barrett, who was appointed special prosecutor, told Circuit Judge Brad Karren that he had been in contact with Shemin, who is out of town.

Formal charges have not been filed and an investigation is ongoing, Barrett said.

“I hope within the month to have a decision on the charges,” Barrett said.

Hunt’s arraignment was reset to 8 a.m. Aug. 31 in Circuit Judge Robin Green’s court.

Barrett declined to comment on the case after the short hearing.

Nathan Smith, Benton County’s prosecuting attorney, requested that a special prosecutor be appointed to the case.

Hunt’s arrest came after a traffic altercation involving another motorist who hit Hunt’s vehicle but did not stop, according to police records. Hunt followed the man and his Escalade later collided with the man’s truck, according to police reports.

Hunt and another man held Omar Salinas until police arrived at the scene, according to the reports. Salinas was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor leaving the scene of an accident.

Hunt was released from custody on citation after his arrest.

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