BENTON COUNTY COURT

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Ward pled not guilty

Robert Dale Ward, 51, is charged with kidnapping, a class A felony. He pleaded not guilty to the charge during an arraignment before Circuit Judge David Clinger on Monday. Ward, of Garfield, faces up to 60 years in prison in connection with the attempted kidnapping of a 13-year-old boy.

Ward, a Level 4 sex of tender, was arrested Aug. 17. His arrest stems from an Aug. 13 incident at the McDonald’s restaurant at 903 Walnut St. in Rogers. Ward is being held in the Benton County Jail in lieu of a $100,000 bond.

Juvenile detained

The 15-year-old boy arrested last week after leading law enforcement officers on a car chase will remain in the Benton County Juvenile Detention Center until his trial. The teen had a hearing Monday before Circuit Judge Jay Finch.

He was involved in the theft of two cars and a police chase that involved the teen ramming a vehicle into a Pea Ridge police car.

Bentonville police were able to arrest the boy Wednesday following a chase that ended in the vicinity of a cemetery near Fourth Street, Police Chief James Allen said.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Bryan Sexton filed a juvenile delinquency petition charging the teen with aggravated assault, a Class C felony; two counts of theft by receiving, a Class B felony; fleeing, a Class B felony; and two counts of criminal mischief in the first degree, a Class C felony. The teen also faces misdemeanor charges of assault, resisting arrest, criminal trespass and fleeing.

The aggravated assault charge stems from ramming the vehicle into the police car. Prosecutors will handle the charge under the Extended Juvenile Jurisdiction Act. The law allows a juvenile to be tried as an adult, including receiving an adult sentence, but then to be treated as a juvenile until he turns 18.

Rogers pled not guilty

Kyle Duncan Rogers, 39, of Bentonville, pleaded not guilty to charges in connection with an accident that left one person dead and another seriously injured.

He was scheduled to appear in court Monday for an arraignment in connection with the Aug. 21 accident. He did not have to appear in court because his attorney waived the arraignment and entered a not guilty plea through paperwork. Rogers is charged with endangering the welfare of a minor in the first degree, a class D felony, and negligent homicide and battery in the first degree, both class B felonies. He is also charged with a misdemeanor in connection with first offense driving while intoxicated.

Rogers was arrested Aug. 21 after an accident in which a vehicle driven by Rogers was northbound on Arkansas 127 when he failed to negotiate a curve and the vehicle left the highway on the right side, according to court documents. Rogers’ vehicle then traveled back onto the highway, and as he lost control of the vehicle it crossed the centerline and struck a motorcycle driven by 63-year-old Jack Hefner of Garfield.

Hefner was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger on the motorcycle, Helen M. Hefner, 60, was flown to St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, Mo. Deputy Prosecutor A.J. Anglin said Helen Hefner was released from St. John’s and is now in a rehabilitation facility.

The endangering charge is due to Rogers’ 3-year-old son being in the vehicle with him. Rogers’ 6-yearold son also was in the vehicle, according to court documents.

If convicted, Rogers could be sentenced from five to 20 years in prison on each of the class B felonies.

He faces up to six years in prison for the remaining felony charge. Rogers is free on $20,000 bond.

On the Record, Pages 3 on 10/06/2010