Stories by Tracy Neal

Rogers man sentenced to 20 years for sexual assault of two girls BENTONVILLE — A Rogers man was sentenced to 20 years in prison after admitting he sexually assaulted two girls. Javier Martinez, 38, pleaded guilty Thursday to two counts of sexual assault. He was ar... April 17, 2021

Guilty plea gets 10 years BENTONVILLE — Dakota Smith, 23, of Rogers was sentenced to 10 years in prison Thursday after he pleaded guilty to internet stalking of a child. Smith was arrested Sept. 1 after an investigation by a ... April 17, 2021

Rogers man sentenced to 10 years for internet stalking BENTONVILLE -- Dakota Smith, 23, of Rogers was sentenced to 10 years in prison Thursday after he pleaded guilty to internet stalking of a child. Smith was arrested Sept. 1 after an investigation by a ... April 16, 2021

Rogers man sentenced to 20 years for sexual assault BENTONVILLE -- A Rogers man was sentenced to 20 years in prison after admitting he sexually assaulted two girls. Javier Martinez, 38, pleaded guilty Thursday to two counts of sexual assault. He was ar... April 16, 2021

Bond revoked for Fayetteville man accused of armed robbery BENTONVILLE -- A judge Thursday ordered a Fayetteville man back to jail after he was seen possessing guns and smoking marijuana in a Facebook video, according to court documents. Benton County Circui... April 16, 2021

Man gets 20 years in prison in Northwest Arkansas teen's sexual assault BENTONVILLE -- An Oklahoma man was sentenced to 20 years in prison after admitting he sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl. Daegon Raimer, 19, of Watts, Okla., pleaded guilty Wednesday to sexual ass... April 15, 2021

Accused murderer pleads not guilty in Benton County inmate's rape BENTONVILLE -- A Rogers man accused of murder pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a charge he raped an inmate at the Benton County Jail. David Arthur Adair Jr., 27, entered the plea at his arraignment befo... April 15, 2021

Bentonville woman admits killing grandmother as sacrifice BENTONVILLE -- A Bentonville woman was sentenced to 36 years in prison after admitting to attempting to kill a bicyclist as a sacrifice to God, but deciding later to beat her grandmother to death with... April 15, 2021

Woman gets 36 years in death of grandmother BENTONVILLE -- Andrea Lea Wilson murdered her grandmother with a hammer because Wilson believed God told her to make a sacrifice or she would be sent to hell, a deputy prosecutor said Monday. Wilson ... April 15, 2021

Rogers Police Department getting armored vehicle ROGERS -- The City Council approved two measures Tuesday in order for the Police Department to buy an armored vehicle. The council approved waiving competitive bidding to buy a $176,222 armored vehic... April 14, 2021

Bentonville woman admits killing grandmother as a sacrifice BENTONVILLE -- Andrea Lea Wilson murdered her grandmother with a hammer because she believed God told her to make a sacrifice or she would be sent to hell, a deputy prosecutor said Monday. Wilson bel... April 13, 2021

‘Star Wars’ fans dress as characters to Oh, be one BENTONVILLE -- The next time there's a disturbance in the Force, it might be coming from some extraterrestrials roaming this downtown square in a city not too far, far away. Several locals have made ... April 11, 2021

Minor retiring as chief from Rogers Police Department ROGERS -- Police Chief Hayes Minor is retiring April 30 after 27 years in law enforcement, he announced Thursday. "The community of Rogers has been great to my family and me throughout my career," Mi... April 9, 2021

Two killed in Bentonville crash on 549 BENTONVILLE -- Two people were killed Wednesday in a two-vehicle collision on Arkansas 549. Gary O'Neal, 84, of Sulphur Springs and Jim Fultz, 56, of Gravette died in the crash. O'Neal was southboun... April 9, 2021

Minor retiring as chief from Rogers Police Department ROGERS -- Police Chief Hayes Minor is retiring after 27-years in law enforcement. Minor announced his retirement Thursday. His last day on the job will be April 30. "The community of Rogers has been... April 8, 2021

Man gets 25 years in prison for attack plot against Bentonville man BENTONVILLE -- A Missouri man was sentenced Tuesday to 25 years in prison for his role in a plot to have a rapist attacked in prison. David Hightower, 38, of Carterville, Mo., pleaded guilty Tuesday ... April 7, 2021

Man gets 25 years in prison for attack plot against convicted Bentonville rapist BENTONVILLE -- A Missouri man was sentenced to 25 years in prison for his role in a plot to have a convicted rapist attacked in prison. David Hightower, 38, of Carterville, Mo., pleaded guilty Tuesda... April 6, 2021

Murdered children remembered at Benton County rally BENTONVILLE -- Twenty-four white balloons, each representing a murdered child, floated above downtown Friday. One was to remember 6-year-old Jersey Bridgeman, a Bentonville girl murdered in 2012. Her... April 3, 2021

Benton County judges require masks in courtrooms BENTONVILLE -- People are no longer required to wear masks to get into the Benton County Courthouse, but masks must be worn in the courtrooms. Benton County's seven circuit judges signed an order Thu... April 3, 2021

Fire captain charged in attack on Asian man quits job BENTONVILLE -- A Fire Department captain has resigned from his job, effective immediately, according to a spokeswoman for the city. Benjamin Snodgrass "expressed regret and an apology for any embarra... March 27, 2021

Stop the Asian Hate event held in Bentonville BENTONVILLE -- City Council member Gayatri Agnew said she was shocked to learn one of the city's firefighters was arrested in connection with attacking an Asian man in Hot Springs. Agnew was one of t... March 27, 2021

Bentonville firefighter charged in fight with Asian American resigns UPDATE: Ben Snodgrass has resigned from his job as a Bentonville Fire Department captain, effective immediately, according to Debbie Griffin, a city spokeswoman, in a news release Friday. Snodgrass "... March 26, 2021

Bentonville fire captain arrested after Hot Springs incident BENTONVILLE -- A firefighter has been placed on leave after he was arrested in connection with hitting an Asian man whom he described as not being American, according to a probable cause affidavit. Be... March 25, 2021

Gravette man dies in one car crash A Gravette man was killed Sunday in a one car crash, according to an accident report from Arkansas State Police. Brandon Nichols, 25, was found dead at the crash scene on Floyd Moore Road and Arkansa... March 23, 2021

Spring brings threat of severe weather in Northwest Arkansas Spring officially started Saturday, and while that brings the promise of warmer days, it also brings a higher risk of severe and potentially deadly weather. The South got a taste of that last week as... March 21, 2021

Woman accused in officer's shooting BENTONVILLE -- A Bella Vista police officer will need surgery to remove a pellet from his wrist after being shot, according to court documents filed recently. Sgt. Ross Conn was one of the officers t... March 15, 2021

Two file suit against property association BELLA VISTA -- Two people are suing the Bella Vista Property Owners Association over the increased monthly assessment fee for improved property. Kevin Hickey and Bradley Hull, lawyers from Fort Smith... March 15, 2021

Third death-penalty trial in fatal abuse of boy set for January BENTONVILLE -- Mauricio Alejandro Torres will face his third jury next year. Torres, 51, of Bella Vista is charged with capital murder and battery. He's accused of killing his 6-year-old son. Prosecu... March 13, 2021

Third trial scheduled for Torres in murder case BENTONVILLE -- Mauricio Alejandro Torres will face his third jury next year. Torres, 51, of Bella Vista is charged with capital murder and battery. He's accused of killing his 6-year-old son. Prosecu... March 12, 2021

Bentonville woman jailed for leaving two children alone BENTONVILLE -- A Bentonville woman told a judge she panicked a year ago when she left her two small children alone to buy groceries because of the covid-19 pandemic. "I'm profusely sorry for leaving ... March 12, 2021

Northwest Arkansas Community College committee discusses cross country program BENTONVILLE -- Four runners have committed so far to be members of Northwest Arkansas Community College's first cross country team, according to a team official. John Luedtke, a college faculty membe... March 11, 2021

Springdale man accused of shooting man that shot him ROGERS -- A Springdale man said he shot the man who shot him last year because he was scared, according to a probable cause affidavit filed Tuesday. Anthony Brown Jr., 39, was arrested Sunday in conn... March 10, 2021

Cave Springs wants to annex 2,800 acres CAVE SPRINGS -- The City Council is considering whether to ask voters to annex about 2,800 acres of unincorporated territory to the west of the city. Mayor Randall Noblett said Friday the proposed el... March 6, 2021

Benton County Jail records give no insight on book ban BENTONVILLE -- Public records provided by the Benton County Sheriff's Office show no documentation jail inmates destroying books, the reason officials gave for removing most reading material from the ... March 5, 2021

Rogers man held on $500,000 bond in shooting BENTONVILLE -- A judge Thursday ordered a Rogers man held on $500,000 bond after his arrest in connection with shooting a man three times. Steven Jordan, 29, was booked Wednesday into the Benton Coun... March 5, 2021

Officer hit with pellet during call to shooting BENTONVILLE -- A Bella Vista police officer will need surgery to remove a pellet from his wrist after being shot, according to court documents filed Thursday. Sgt. Ross Conn was one of the officers w... March 5, 2021

Judge sets $500,000 bail in Rogers shooting case BENTONVILLE -- A judge on Thursday ordered a Rogers man held in lieu of $500,000 bond after his arrest in connection with shooting a man three times. Steven Jordan, 29, was booked Wednesday into the ... March 5, 2021

Springdale teen charged with attempted murder in Rogers shooting BENTONVILLE -- A 17-year old was charged Monday as an adult in connection with a shooting that wounded another teenager. Patrick Torres-Bonilla of Springdale is charged with attempted capital murder ... March 4, 2021

Rogers man sentenced to 20 years in prison for sexual assault BENTONVILLE -- A Rogers man was sentenced to 20 years in prison after admitting to sexually abusing a boy. Rafael Alonso Garcia-Torres, 20, pleaded guilty Friday to sexual assault. He was originally c... February 26, 2021

Benton County sheriff seeks to replace books jail staff discarded BENTONVILLE -- Benton County Sheriff Shawn Holloway is asking the public to replace inmates' books six months after confiscating almost all the reading material in the jail. The book drive, announced... February 24, 2021

Convicted killer arrested on drug charges BENTONVILLE -- A man convicted in the murder of two children was arrested Wednesday in connection with drug charges after deputies found methamphetamine with a child nearby, according to a probable ca... February 20, 2021

Murder convict now faces drug charges BENTONVILLE -- A man convicted in the deaths of two children was arrested Wednesday in connection with drug charges after deputies found methamphetamine with a child nearby, according to a probable ca... February 20, 2021

Gas service restored in Pea Ridge Black Hills Energy wants any Pea Ridge customers without service to contact the company, according to a press release from the company. Crews worked the last three days restoring service in Pea Ridge... February 19, 2021

Gas service restored to most in Pea Ridge Natural gas service was restored Thursday to nearly all 2,300 customers in Pea Ridge, according to a news release from Black Hills Energy. Crews worked the past three days to restore natural gas serv... February 19, 2021

Black Hills working toward restoring customer's gas service in Pea Ridge Black Hills Energy has restored gas service to more than 2,000 Pea Ridge customers, according to a company news release. The company is working toward relighting approximately 2,300 customers and by ... February 18, 2021

Medical pot poses probation dilemma BENTONVILLE -- Arkansas' circuit judges are responsible for deciding whether people on probation may use marijuana for medical purposes, leaving judges to weigh the potential impacts on public safety ... February 15, 2021

Teen admits having gun at Bentonville High School BENTONVILLE -- A 14-year-old boy who took a loaded gun to Bentonville High School last week avoided further detention Friday and instead was sent home with an ankle monitor. The teen pleaded guilty F... February 13, 2021

Teen admits having gun at Bentonville High School BENTONVILLE -- A 14-year-old boy admitted to having a loaded handgun at Bentonville High School last week, but said he needed the weapon for his protection. The teen pleaded guilty Friday morning to ... February 12, 2021