by KENNETH FRY, Press Argus-Courier Editor Friday, June 26, 2009 12:32 PM CDT
Two accused of setting fire to a convenience store in Mulberry pleaded not guilty on Wednesday in Crawford County Circuit Court.
Debrent Lee Reynolds, 20, and Heather Rice, 21, both of Rogers, are charged with arson, commercial burglary and theft of property. Both are being held in the Crawford County Detention Center on $10,000 bond.
Public Defender Ryan Norris entered the not guilty pleas for Reynolds and Rice and waived formal arraignment before Judge Gary R. Cottrell.
A third suspect in the May 12 fire at Milsap's, a grocery and convenience store located north of Mulberry on Arkansas 215, is being held in Washington County on unrelated theft charges, according to Cpl. Aaron Beshears of the Crawford County Sheriff's Department.
Reynolds and Rice were developed as suspects after law enforcement received information that property stolen from Milsap's had been discarded near Beaver Lake in Northwest Arkansas.
Prosecuting Attorney Marc McCune said the three are accused of stealing fireworks, ammunition, cigarettes and petty cash from Milsap's before spraying lighter fluid inside the store and setting it on fire.
All three gave voluntary statements, McCune said.
Other pleas heard Wednesday by Cottrell were:
Steven Huffstetler, 31, of Van Buren pleaded not guilty to two counts of delivery of marijuana. Huffstetler is accused of selling one ounce of marijuana for $100 to a confidential informant on both April 3 and April 16.
Carrie Johnston, 24, of Van Buren pleaded not guilty to delivery of Xanax, alleging she sold 40 tablets for $100 to a confidential informant on Feb. 26.
Colby Butikofer, 19, of Van Buren pleaded not guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia. Butikofer was arrested June 12 by a Van Buren police officer who stopped his vehicle for failing to use a turn signal.
Jamie Pike, 23, of Fort Smith pleaded not guilty to possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Pike was arrested June 12 by a Van Buren police officer who stopped her vehicle for a broken windshield.
Richard Dyer, 32, of Rudy pleaded not guilty to violation of a protection order in connection with an incident on June 7 where he allegedly pursued his ex-wife on a motorcycle.
Michael Lee, 26, of Clarksville, Tenn., and Lucian Hyatt, 32, of Louisville, Ky., pleaded not guilty to possession of marijuana with intent to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia. They were arrested June 11 when an Arkansas State Police trooper stopped a vehicle driven by Hyatt on Interstate 40 for no license plate. Following an alert by a drug dog, the trooper found four pounds of suspected marijuana.
Steven Ritchie, 29, of Van Buren pleaded not guilty to sexual assault in the second degree and habitual offender. Ritchie is accused of sexual misconduct with a 14-year-old girl Jan. 1 through Feb. 28.
Donald Cullon, 60, of Alma pleaded not guilty to second offense possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Cullon was arrested June 11 when authorities executed an arrest warrant at his residence.
Thomas Morse, 54, of Van Buren pleaded not guilty to possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia, simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms and felon in possession of a firearm. Morse was arrested June 11 when he gave authorities who were executing an arrest warrant consent to search his residence.
Derek Harvey, 27, of Fort Smith pleaded not guilty to residential burglary and theft of a controlled substance. Harvey is accused of breaking into a Dora Road residence on May 31 and stealing pain medicine.
Marion Chevez, 20, of Locust Grove, Okla., and Jeremy Maner, 18, of Salina, Okla., pleaded not guilty to criminal mischief in the first degree, public intoxication and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Chevez and Maner were arrested June 14, alleging they threatened residents at a local apartment complex and damaged a vehicle.
Jeremy Boatright, 27, of Van Buren pleaded not guilty to forgery in the first degree and failure to appear. Boatright allegedly passed a counterfeit $20 bill at a local convenience store on April 8, then failed to show for arraignment on June 17.
Brandon Schoening, 23, of Van Buren pleaded not guilty to failure to appear at a June 1 plea or trial request on a charge of theft of property and possession of Valium.
Christopher Bentley, 20, of Dardanelle pleaded not guilty to failure to appear at an April 10 motion hearing on a charge of felon in possession of a firearm.
Kathleen Mitchell, 40, of Kansas City, Mo., pleaded not guilty to failure to appear at a June 7, 2007, mandatory court appearance on a charge of endangering the welfare of a minor in the first degree.
Kristen Brown, 21, of Van Buren resisted a petition to revoke a sentence she received on Aug. 15, 2008, for breaking or entering, alleging she failed to follow counseling after-care.
