A new prosecutor was hired Monday afternoon and was to begin work Tuesday, April 10.

Steve Routon was approved by a unanimous vote of the Pea Ridge City Council during a special meeting Monday afternoon upon the recommendation of Mayor Jackie Crabtree.

Crabtree told the council members he received two applications and was recommending Routon. The other applicant was Bill Horton.

Routon retired recently and moved to Rogers. A judge for the past 27 years in St. Francis County, Routon has been a deputy prosecutor and a public defender during his years as a lawyer.

City clerk Sandy Button, who is also the court clerk, said Routon is familiar with the city's court computer software program.

Routon earned a bachelor's of art from Hendrix College and his juris doctorate from the University of Arkansas Law School. He has served as the president of the Arkansas District Judges Council; president of the St. Francis County Bar Association; was on the Board of Governors, American Judges Association; was appointed to the Arkansas Supreme Court to Amendment 80 Implementation Committee; was chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Arkansas District Juges Retirement System; and was appointed by the Arkansas Supreme Court to the Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission.

Routon was president of the St. Francis Catholic Church Parish Council; scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 202; and served on the Hendrix College Alumni Board of Governors. He was associate/partner of Butler Hicky and Routon Law Firm; partner of Sharpe, Beavers & Routon; and owner of the Routon Law Firm. He has served as state district judge (2009-present), district judge (2002-2009) and municipal judge (1991-2002), all in St. Francis County.

Routon and his wife have two adult sons, Stephen and David Routon, and two grandsons, Jackson and Reed Routon.

The former prosecutor, Rick Hardwick, recently retired after serving the city for 27 years.

"We hadn't reappointed Rick the last couple of years," Crabtree said. "We were just working month to month."

The resolution hiring Routon states the term is until Dec. 31, 2018. He will be compensated $1,000 per month and be reimbursed for any out-of-pcket expenses advanced by him in performance of his duties.

General News on 04/11/2018