Hell's Angels case ends with guilty plea on one count

EUREKA SPRINGS -- The Hell's Angels case of 2007 finally came to a close Monday, Oct. 26, during circuit court action as Christopher Sweeney, 39, of Lynn, Mass, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of one count of second-degree battery after three counts of first-degree battery and a charge of aggravated riot, with enhancement for engaging in a violent criminal group, were dismissed.

Sweeney was one of six Hell's Angels involved in an attack on rival Bandidos motorcycle gang members out of Texas on July 20, 2007.

Attorney Tim Parker said that Sweeney was handed a five-year suspended sentence, with payment of a $4,000 fine and court costs, and that his bond of $25,000 is to be returned to the bondsman.

The attack could be interpreted as an ambush, as a Bandido witness stated that the Hell's Angels indicated they wanted the Bandidos to pull over in the area of Gingerbread Antiques.

Roy Lee Anderson, 44, of Green Forest, was convicted on charges of second-degree battery, misdemeanor driving while intoxicated, driving on a suspended license and speeding, and violations of refusal to submit and no seat belt.

He was sentenced to six years in prison with three years suspended, with credit for 30 days in jail. Meanwhile, charges in a separate case against him from February on Carroll Road 6151 were dismissed.

In May, Anderson was driving a mini-van at 75 mph in the Twin Bridges area and pulled off on Carroll Road 801, where an officer determined that he had failed to appear on the February charges and a breath test showed a reading of .196. While in the patrol car he yelled and complained about Green Forest police, and an altercation erupted in which an officer was injured.

While charges in a 2008 hot check case against David Dewayne Martin, 38, of Aurora, Mo., and Berryville, were dismissed, he was handed a 36-month sentence, with 18 months in prison suspended, and 18 months to be served in a Regional Punishment Facility on a 2005 hot check case.

The case had been modified to include an additional check for $239.80. Originally he was charged with writing 14 bad checks to various Berryville businesses between Sept. 9 and Oct. 25, 2004.

A charge of aggravated assault on a family member against David Edward Baker, 20, of Harrison, was reduced to third-degree domestic battery, and a charge of aggravated assault was dismissed.

Baker was given credit for 69 days served in jail and ordered to have no contact with his estranged wife except for child exchange. He is to also pay a $1,000 fine, with $250 suspended, $150 in court costs, $100 to the public defender and a $20 booking fee.

On June 18, Baker caused a traffic accident, risking the death of or injury to his wife, when he grabbed the steering wheel while she was driving between 50 and 60 mph in the vicinity of Smokin' Hillbilly BBQ on U.S. 62 East. The vehicle slid sideways, colliding with a car behind them driven by Kelley Stockstill.

In 2008 Baker had been charged with third-degree domestic battery in Boone County, which was later dismissed.

Timothy Holland, 22, of Golden, Mo., pleaded guilty to fraudulent acquisition of a controlled substance, a Class D felony, and was placed on two years of probation with opportunity to have his criminal record expunged. He is to also pay $26,395 in fines, fees and costs.

Carianne Taffar, 34, of Berryville, pleaded guilty to third offense driving while intoxicated, driving on a suspended license and careless and prohibited driving, after charges of no insurance and no seat belt were dismissed. She was sentenced to 180 days in jail with credit for two days, with a 30-day drug and alcohol treatment program following and allowing for work release. She was also ordered to pay a $2,000 fine with $1,000 suspended, along with $440 in fines, fees and costs.

In a 2007 case, Brittany Jo Dawn Bailey-Doss, 35, of Berryville admitted to allegations of a petition for revocation on a 2007 hot check conviction, along with a 2009 charge of fraudulent use of a credit card. She was ordered to report to Drug Court or serve 10 years in prison.

Doss' 2007 case involved 29 bad checks totaling $19,838.93 with fees, while her 2009 case involved the use of her grandmother's debit card.

Mark Anthony Marinez, of Berryville, pleaded guilty to third-degree domestic battery, second offense, and was placed on three years probation with credit for of 45 days in jail and permitting work release. He is to also pay a $1,000 fine with $200 suspended, $150 in court costs, $100 to the public defender and a $20 booking fee.

Marinez was arrested in May 5 in connection with an assault on his wife on Hwy. 21 North, apparently over her use of a telephone. He had previously been convicted of third-degree battery in Van Buren, Sebastian and Crawford counties in 2004 and 2006.

James Vernon Holderfield, of Eureka Springs, pleaded guilty to interference with court-ordered custody, a Class A misdemeanor reduced from a Class C felony, and was handed a deferred sentence of 30 days in jail and payment of $420 in court costs, fine and booking fee starting on Nov. 25, and due within 120 days.

Holderfield was arrested in March, along with Rebecca Judith Christian, 39, of Eureka Springs, after they took three children in the custody of the State of Tennessee, and brought them to Carroll County

Damon Lee Fuson, 31, of Berryville, was arraigned on charges of residential burglary and theft of property from a residence in King's Hill Estates in January.

While the case was initially filed in the county's Western District, it was transfered to the Eastern District. Fuson was allegedly involved in the theft of 75 DVD's and an SKS Model 172 assault rifle.

The case of Anne Nicole Beatty, also known as Tania Machick, 27, of Holiday Island and Fayetteville, was transferred to Drug Court. Her original charges involved second-degree forgery of 10 checks totaling $5,025.

Tania Machick is an actual person residing in Florida who visited Fayetteville during the winter holidays of 2007-08, and whose residence was burglarized with several individuals' check books and credit cards being taken.

Charges of residential burglary, battery, criminal mischief and interference with emergency communications against Korey Ace Morrison, 23, of Eureka Springs, were dismissed.

Also dismissed were charges of second-degree battery, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm by certain persons against John Alan Brewington, 42, of Berryville.

Already charged with two counts of theft of property arising from her involvement in a Fall 2008 cattle rustling case, Kimberly Dawn Trumbley, of Berryville, was arraigned on an additional charge of hindering apprehension.

Other arraignments included:

* Dennis Lee Vachon, 55, of Golden, Mo. -- Rape, a Class Y felony. He allegedly raped a woman he met at church on County Road 702 on May 31.

* Aguilar Ovidio Guevara, 28, of Springdale -- Possession of cocaine, second-offense DWI, and driving left of center.

* Daniel Christopher Caruso, 25, of Eureka Springs -- Aggravated robbery, intimidating a witness, and possession of firearms by a certain person. While in possession of a semi-automatic handgun, he allegedly took prescription medications and money from Fidelis Nchoji and threatened to kill him, in August.

* Jeremy Lee LaFollette, 38, of Oak Grove -- Third-degree second-offense domestic battery, a Class D felony. On Oct. 3 he allegedly slammed his wife's leg in a door, grabbed her face and pulled her hair.

* Travis Marshall Divall, 29, of Green Forest -- Possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and manufacture of marijuana. He was arrested in late September in connection with an incident on U.S. Hwy 62 East in Green Forest.

* Scottie Phillip Willis, 34, of Green Forest -- Possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on Sept. 25.

* Megan Lee Early, 25, of Bentonville -- Theft of property, a Class B felony. She was arrested on Sept. 26 in connection with the theft of a vehicle.

* Aaron Cutis Walker, 18, of Berryville -- Terroristic threatening, a Class D felony. In an effort to get money, he allegedly threatened to kill Daniell Herron on Sept. 24.