Ward charged with two counts of attempted murder

Walter Jason Ward appeared in Western District Court last week, where he was charged with two counts of first-degree attempted murder. Both charges are class A felonies, which carry sentences up to 30 years in prison each.

The first charge states, "On or about March 27, 2012, Ward, armed with two separate weapons, a knife and a gas-powered BB gun, either of which were capable of causing death, traveled to the residence of Judy Clarke, shot her repeatedly with the BB gun and stabbed her with the knife, these acts being a substantial step toward causing death, against the peace and dignity of the State of Arkansas."

The second charge repeats the first, but uses the name Kelly Clarke, daughter of Judy.

When the attacks allegedly took place on March 27, Ward was out on bail after being arrested and charged in a January incident. After that incident, he was charged with residential burglary, theft of property and criminal mischief at Clarke's home.

On March 9, had Ward bonded out of jail after being an inmate there for more then a month. Ward hasn't been able the to raise his current bail and is now being held in the Carroll County jail on $200,000 bond.

According to the Carroll County Prosecutor's office, Ward was ordered to receive a mental health evaluation. As of his Monday arraignment, that hadn't happened yet. According to the prosecutor's office, Carroll County Circuit Court Judge Kent Crow has put both cases on hold until the Arkansas State Hospital is able to provide results of a mental exam.