Rogers man back in custody

Clayton Shatswell
Clayton Shatswell

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 Arkansas 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 Prosecutor Nathan Smith. "It is too early to tell if he will face any additional charges."

On June 11, Shatswell was sentenced 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 a 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 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 Circuit Court in July in the revocation case and was released from the Washington County jail 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. He had a hold placed on him when he was transferred to Washington County.

Smith said his office was informed Jan. 2 that Shatswell wasn't in prison.

Kelly Cantrell, a spokeswoman for the Washington County Sheriff's Office, said there was nothing to indicate Benton County provided any documentation requesting Shatswell be returned after appearing in Washington County court.

Shatswell's next court appearance is set for Feb. 27, according to the jail website.

NW News on 01/24/2019

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