FAYETTEVILLE -- The lawyer for a Lowell man accused of assaulting two women on a north Fayetteville trail last fall wants a judge to suppress statements his client made to police.
Richard Leroy Turner, 34, pleaded not guilty in Washington County Circuit Court in December to kidnapping, aggravated assault and second-degree battery. Turner is being held at the Washington County Detention Center in lieu of $100,000 bond. He is awaiting trial.
Brock Showalter, Turner's attorney, argued statements Turner made to police should be thrown out because Turner was not properly advised of his constitutional rights, didn't knowingly waive his right against self-incrimination and was denied counsel during questioning. A motion to suppress recordings of telephone calls Turner made from the Washington County Jail also was filed Thursday.
In late September, a court-ordered psychological exam found Turner competent to stand trial. The psychiatrist's report found Turner had no mental disease or defect at the time of the alleged conduct and he had the capacity to appreciate the criminality of his conduct and conform his conduct to the law.
Turner was diagnosed with methamphetamine disorder, major depressive disorder and panic disorder at the time of his examination. He told doctors he didn't remember the incidents on the trail.
Turner's next court appearance is set for Nov. 16 before Circuit Judge Joanna Taylor.
Police said they found Turner, who was previously convicted of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old, by using DNA evidence from sunglasses he left at the scene.
April Robertson, 28, of Springdale reported an assault at 2:22 p.m. Sept. 13, 2015. Robertson is a reporter for the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Robertson told police she was jogging alone when a man ran up behind her and tackled her, according to an arrest warrant affidavit from Washington County Circuit Court. The man punched Robertson on the head and face then dragged her into the woods, police said.
Robertson was able to get away and call 911.
Earlier the same day, another woman jogging on the same trail ran away from a man who attacked her about 6 a.m., according to police.
NW News on 10/14/2016