Post by Critique on Jan 17, 2007 2:56:58 GMT -5
January 16, 2007
By JIM WILLIAMSON
MINERAL SPRINGS. Ark.—A former Southwest Arkansas prosecutor and district court judge was arrested Friday in Mineral Springs for allegedly speeding, driving while intoxicated and refusing a chemical test.
Jim Bob Steel, 57, of Nashville, Ark., was arrested about 3 p.m. Friday by Mineral Springs Police Patrolman Jeff Witherspoon on Arkansas Highway 355, said Mineral Springs Police Chief Billy Kuykendall.
It was Steel’s second arrest in the past 19 months involving traffic incidents.
Kuykendall said the patrol officer was using radar and recorded Steel’s vehicle traveling 49 mph in a 35-mph zone within the city limits.
“He was originally stopped for speeding, not for drinking,” said Kuykendall.
Steel drove just outside the city limits before stopping for the officer, he said.
Witherspoon reportedly found an open can of beer in the vehicle.
Under Arkansas law, when a driver signs the driver’s license, it gives implied consent the person will submit to blood or breath tests.
If the driver refuses to take the breath or chemical tests, the officer can make an arrest on DWI charges based on their driving and actions at the time of the traffic stop.
“He refused all field sobriety tests and chemical tests,” said Kuykendall.
“He refused all field sobriety tests and chemical tests,” said Kuykendall.
Witherspoon took Steel to the Howard County Jail in Nashville where he was charged with speeding, misdemeanor driving while intoxicated and refusing a chemical test, said the police chief.
Steel was released to the custody of his daughter at the jail.
Steel is to appear in Howard County District Court Feb. 15 to enter a plea to the three charges.
He was not immediately available for comment on Monday.
On June 17, 2005, Steel was driving his 1999 Nissan Maxima on Arkansas Highway 355, north of Tollette, when it collided with a van.
According to reports, Steel crossed the center line and collided with the van.
He was arrested on charges of leaving the scene of an accident involving injuries, a Class D felony.
He was later found by law enforcement officials at his home.
Steel was also arrested on charges of misdemeanor driving left of center.
The felony carried a potential sentence of up to six years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000.
The collision was investigated by the Arkansas State Police.
At the time of the 2005 incident, Steel was the Pike County District Court Judge in Murfreesboro.
Steel served as the Ninth Judicial District-West prosecutor from 1982 to 1994. The district where Steel was the prosecutor included Little River, Howard, Sevier and Pike counties.
The investigation into the collision in June 2005 by State Police Trooper Nate Wilson showed Steel had alcohol in the car.
Despite alcohol being found in his abandoned vehicle, Steel wasn’t given a Breathalyzer test because he wasn’t in the car when police arrived at the accident scene, according to reports.
Breath tests are usually done on the scene and not at a secondary location.
Steel was represented by Texarkana attorney Jeff Harrelson.
A civil lawsuit was filed by the family involved in the wreck and was eventually settled out of court.
The lawsuit sought reimbursement for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and mental anguish.
Billy Stewart Sr. was the driver of the van and the passengers were Tracy Staton, 31, Billy Stewart Jr., 7, Keyshaun Stewart, 3, Jawara Stewart, 13, and George and Mary Stewart, both 55.
The settlement for the children included: Billy Stewart Jr., $3,875; Jawara Stewart, $6,650; and Keyshaun Stewart, $1,200.
The settlement for the adults involved in the collision was undisclosed, records show.
In a plea agreement reached on the criminal charges involving the accident, Steel resigned as the Pike County district court judge May 11, 2006.
He was assessed an $800 fine after pleading guilty to assault in the first degree, a misdemeanor charge for leaving the scene of a two-vehicle crash. Harrelson said assault in the first degree has a definition where reckless behavior is an element of the law.
Steel can continue to practice law in Arkansas.
Attorney LeAnne Daniel of Nashville was appointed by then-Gov. Mike Huckabee to fill the unexpired term of Steel.
Daniel also serves as the Mineral Springs city attorney.
Harrelson, contacted Monday, was unaware of last week’s traffic incident and had not been contacted by Steel.
www.texarkanagazette.com/articles/2007/01/16/local_news/news/news01.txt
By JIM WILLIAMSON
MINERAL SPRINGS. Ark.—A former Southwest Arkansas prosecutor and district court judge was arrested Friday in Mineral Springs for allegedly speeding, driving while intoxicated and refusing a chemical test.
Jim Bob Steel, 57, of Nashville, Ark., was arrested about 3 p.m. Friday by Mineral Springs Police Patrolman Jeff Witherspoon on Arkansas Highway 355, said Mineral Springs Police Chief Billy Kuykendall.
It was Steel’s second arrest in the past 19 months involving traffic incidents.
Kuykendall said the patrol officer was using radar and recorded Steel’s vehicle traveling 49 mph in a 35-mph zone within the city limits.
“He was originally stopped for speeding, not for drinking,” said Kuykendall.
Steel drove just outside the city limits before stopping for the officer, he said.
Witherspoon reportedly found an open can of beer in the vehicle.
Under Arkansas law, when a driver signs the driver’s license, it gives implied consent the person will submit to blood or breath tests.
If the driver refuses to take the breath or chemical tests, the officer can make an arrest on DWI charges based on their driving and actions at the time of the traffic stop.
“He refused all field sobriety tests and chemical tests,” said Kuykendall.
“He refused all field sobriety tests and chemical tests,” said Kuykendall.
Witherspoon took Steel to the Howard County Jail in Nashville where he was charged with speeding, misdemeanor driving while intoxicated and refusing a chemical test, said the police chief.
Steel was released to the custody of his daughter at the jail.
Steel is to appear in Howard County District Court Feb. 15 to enter a plea to the three charges.
He was not immediately available for comment on Monday.
On June 17, 2005, Steel was driving his 1999 Nissan Maxima on Arkansas Highway 355, north of Tollette, when it collided with a van.
According to reports, Steel crossed the center line and collided with the van.
He was arrested on charges of leaving the scene of an accident involving injuries, a Class D felony.
He was later found by law enforcement officials at his home.
Steel was also arrested on charges of misdemeanor driving left of center.
The felony carried a potential sentence of up to six years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000.
The collision was investigated by the Arkansas State Police.
At the time of the 2005 incident, Steel was the Pike County District Court Judge in Murfreesboro.
Steel served as the Ninth Judicial District-West prosecutor from 1982 to 1994. The district where Steel was the prosecutor included Little River, Howard, Sevier and Pike counties.
The investigation into the collision in June 2005 by State Police Trooper Nate Wilson showed Steel had alcohol in the car.
Despite alcohol being found in his abandoned vehicle, Steel wasn’t given a Breathalyzer test because he wasn’t in the car when police arrived at the accident scene, according to reports.
Breath tests are usually done on the scene and not at a secondary location.
Steel was represented by Texarkana attorney Jeff Harrelson.
A civil lawsuit was filed by the family involved in the wreck and was eventually settled out of court.
The lawsuit sought reimbursement for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and mental anguish.
Billy Stewart Sr. was the driver of the van and the passengers were Tracy Staton, 31, Billy Stewart Jr., 7, Keyshaun Stewart, 3, Jawara Stewart, 13, and George and Mary Stewart, both 55.
The settlement for the children included: Billy Stewart Jr., $3,875; Jawara Stewart, $6,650; and Keyshaun Stewart, $1,200.
The settlement for the adults involved in the collision was undisclosed, records show.
In a plea agreement reached on the criminal charges involving the accident, Steel resigned as the Pike County district court judge May 11, 2006.
He was assessed an $800 fine after pleading guilty to assault in the first degree, a misdemeanor charge for leaving the scene of a two-vehicle crash. Harrelson said assault in the first degree has a definition where reckless behavior is an element of the law.
Steel can continue to practice law in Arkansas.
Attorney LeAnne Daniel of Nashville was appointed by then-Gov. Mike Huckabee to fill the unexpired term of Steel.
Daniel also serves as the Mineral Springs city attorney.
Harrelson, contacted Monday, was unaware of last week’s traffic incident and had not been contacted by Steel.
www.texarkanagazette.com/articles/2007/01/16/local_news/news/news01.txt
