BENTONVILLE -- A Level 3 sex offender was sentenced to 12 years in prison for impersonating an undercover police officer.
Eric Christopher Finnegan, 27, of Garfield, pleaded guilty Thursday to criminal impersonation. His plea came under an agreement Dan Ivy, his attorney, reached with Stuart Cearley, chief deputy prosecutor.
Finnegan was arrested last year after a Sheriff's Office deputy stopped Finnegan's vehicle. The inside of Finnegan's white Ford Explorer was equipped with inboard lights identical to what law enforcement officials use for emergency lighting.
The Explorer's front license plate was black and depicted two small "SWAT" team members with a thin blue line running through the middle, according to the probable cause affidavit.
Deputies also found a police officer's badge from Hardin, Mo., and a notebook with names and ages of children inside the vehicle.
Finnegan said he bought the lights on eBay and designed the Explorer to look like an undercover police vehicle because he thought it was cool and so did his two children.
Circuit Judge Brad Karren accepted the plea agreement and Finnegan's guilty plea.
Finnegan was sentenced to 12 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction. He received 354 days of credit for the time he spent in the Benton County Jail awaiting trial.
Prosecutors also wanted to revoke Finnegan's probation.
He was arrested in May 2007 in connection with sexual indecency with a child for having sexual contact with a 14-year-old girl. Finnegan pleaded guilty and was placed on probation, and he was required to register as a sex offender.
He was arrested again in June 2010 in connection with failure to comply with reporting requirements. He admitted he changed his address without providing notice. He was again placed on probation.
Finnegan must abide by a suspended-sentence agreement for six years after his release from prison in connection with the probation revocation. He also must pay $1,810 in court costs.
General News on 03/19/2014