BENTONVILLE -- A Rogers man who was supposed to be in prison has been arrested, a law enforcement official said Wednesday.
Clayton Shatswell, 35, was arrested Tuesday and is being held in the Benton County Jail. He was arrested by the Department of Community Correction, according to the jail website.
A warrant for Shatswell's arrest was issued last week after Benton County prosecutors learned he wasn't in prison.
"I appreciate the work of law enforcement in apprehending the defendant," said Benton County Prosecuting Attorney Nathan Smith. "It is too early to tell if he will face any additional charges."
Shatswell was sentenced June 11 to 10 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction after he pleaded guilty to forgery, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was charged as an habitual offender.
He was first taken to the Benton County Jail before being transferred to the Washington County Detention Center to face charges tied to a 2014 case.
Shatswell was charged with escape in 2014 after leaving the Northwest Arkansas Work Release Center in Springdale. He was captured in Rogers. He pleaded guilty to the escape charge in 2015 and was sentenced to three years in prison and given a three-year suspended sentence.
Prosecutors filed a motion to revoke the suspended sentence after his arrest in Benton County.
Shatswell appeared in Washington County court in July in the revocation case and was released from the Washington County Detention Center on a $2,500 bond. He returned to court in September and admitted his violation in the revocation case and was given a 12-month suspended sentence.
Shatswell left court and wasn't returned to the Benton County jail.
Smith said his office was informed Jan. 2 that Shatswell wasn't in prison. A new warrant for Shatswell was obtained; nationwide extradition was approved; local law enforcement in every part of the state where Shatswell lived were contacted and federal authorities were alerted, Smith said.
Sgt. Shannon Jenkins, a spokeswoman for the Benton County Sheriff's Office, said Shatswell was released with a hold to Washington County to face charges before being taken to the Arkansas Department of Correction. Jenkins said Benton County officials learned of Shatswell's release when the Department of Correction called to fill open beds.
Kelly Cantrell, a spokeswoman for the Washington County Sheriff's Office, said there has been a conversation with Benton County about the case, but there's nothing to indicate Benton County provided any documentation requesting Shatswell be returned.
Shatswell's next court appearance is set for Feb. 27, according to the jail website.
NW News on 01/24/2019