Co-defendant refused to testify against Helm

A co-defendant’s refusal to testify against Jason Helm — one of three Carroll County men accused in the 2018 slaying of Christopher Alvard at his home near Eureka Springs — was the reason Helm’s trial on a first-degree murder charge was delayed last August, according to recent court filings.

Joshua Anderson and Charles Ky Hanna also are charged with first-degree murder in connection with Alvard’s death, and all three defendants also face felony charges of animal cruelty stemming from the death of Alvard’s dog, whose body also was found at the crime scene. All three men have pleaded not guilty.

Anderson had been scheduled for trial beginning Oct. 25, 2022, with Anderson set to face trial beginning Nov. 15, 2022, but their trials also were delayed.

Trial dates for each defendant were scheduled for Feb. 21-24 but have since been rescheduled for March 28-31 at the request of special prosecutor Jack McQuary.

With jury selection completed and opening statements in Helm’s trial scheduled to begin before a crowd of spectators at the Western District Courthouse in Eureka Springs on Aug. 24, 2022, McQuary moved to continue the case. McQuary told Carroll County Circuit Judge Scott Jackson that prosecutors had received new information earlier that morning that he described as “crucial” to the state’s case.

Helm’s attorney, Ben Catterlin, objected to the continuance, but Jackson granted McQuary’s motion.

McQuary did not elaborate on the new information and declined to comment later.

McQuary filed a motion on Dec. 20 to continue the case again, however, and an affidavit in support of that motion offers new insight into the delay.

“On August 23-24, 2022, Jason Helm’s trial was about to start when his co-defendant, Joshua Anderson refused to testify against Helm as he had agreed to do so, causing the State to seek a continuance for additional evidence,” McQuary’s affidavit says.

McQuary also writes that: “The State learned of new evidence to which the state flew in assistance from Alaska to get. One witness has given an interview indicating the alibies used may be false and additional evidence against at least two of the defendants. This evidence has led to needing to inquire and interview additional witnesses, all not based on any fault of the State.”

Jerry “J.J.” Reddick, police chief in Skagway, Alaska, and a former investigator with the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, was in the courtroom when Helm’s trial was set to begin last August.

After Helm’s trial was delayed, Jackson issued an order allowing Helm to have his ankle monitor removed and to travel under the condition that he maintain weekly contact with the sheriff’s office.

CCSO deputies who had been dispatched to check on an open door on Feb. 8, 2018, found Alvard’s body inside his home at 674 Carroll County Road 116 near Eureka Springs. The body of Alvard’s dog also was found at the scene. An autopsy later determined that Alvard died as the result of multiple stab wounds. His dog also appeared to have been stabbed multiple times.

The sheriff’s office requested assistance from the Arkansas State Police at and special agents from the ASP’s Criminal Investigation Team were assigned to the case.

Anderson, Hanna and Helm were arrested on Feb. 8, 2021 — the threeyear anniversary of the discovery of Alvard’s body.

According to a probable- cause affidavit written by special agent Dale Bailey of the Arkansas State Police, the names of Anderson, Hanna and Helm “kept coming up as being involved” during the investigation into Alvard’s death.

“Based upon the three names, attempts were made to interview all three,” the affidavit says. “One of the three informed investigators that all three were involved in the death of Christopher Alvard. He stated that they initially went to the Alvard residence to ‘rough up’ Alvard. He stated Alvard fought back to the point where at least two of the potential defendants used deadly physical forced armed with knives.”

Other witnesses overheard or witnessed Anderson, Hanna and Helm discussing their involvement or saw evidence corroborating their involvement in Alvard’s death, the affidavit says.

Jackson granted prosecuting attorney Tony Rogers’ motions to recuse himself from each case because Rogers has represented each defendant in the past. McQuary was appointed in each case.

All three defendants are free on bond and were scheduled to appear in court Monday, Feb. 13, for pretrial hearings.