Writer apologizes to man who alleges he was threatened

Carroll County Judge David Writer issued a public apology on Tuesday, Feb. 3, to a Eureka Springs man who says Writer threatened his life during a confrontation after a county quorum court meeting on Jan. 20.

“I would like to extend an apology to Eric Scheunemann and the people of Carroll County,” Writer said in a written statement.

“Between roads, wind turbines and other issues, conversations can become heated and accusatory,” Writer continued.

“I sincerely apologize that the conversation got out of hand and look forward to continuing to serve the good people of Carroll County, as we all strive to make it an even better place to call home,” Writer said.

Scheunemann alleges that Writer told him: “I’ll kill you, you son of a b****,” at the end of a heated exchange after the Jan. 20 quorum court meeting in the courtroom of the Eastern District Courthouse in Berryville.

Writer’s statement did not address the specific language alleged by Scheunemann, nor did it acknowledge or deny that Writer made a threat.

On Wednesday, Feb. 4, Scheunemann called Writer’s statement “a positive sign,” but added that the rule of law must be upheld.

“Forgiveness is essential in any communication,” Scheunemann said. “However, we have laws to uphold.”

Meanwhile, Carroll County Circuit Judge Scott Jackson has ordered that a special prosecutor be appointed in the case. Jackson’s order came after Carroll County Prosecuting Attorney Tony Rogers filed a motion requesting a special prosecutor. Rogers’ motion cited a conflict of interest, since the prosecutor’s office represents elected officials in the county.

The confrontation between Writer and Scheunemann was recorded by a county video camera inside the courtroom.

Scheunemann said last week that he has not spoken with Writer since the incident and has not gotten an update on the status of the investigation.

During the quorum court meeting that preceded the incident, Scheunemann attempted to speak during public comments, saying he was “here to discuss the abandonment of Spring Valley Road …” Writer interrupted Scheunemann after approximately 30 seconds, saying: “This is something that really doesn’t concern these JPs.”

After an exchange between the two, Writer did not permit Scheunemann to continue addressing the quorum court.

Scheunemann said last week that there is a “bigger issue here that is being missed, which is that not a single one of them is following the law.”

“Every single one of them had deferred the leadership in disregard of their oath of office, their Pledge of Allegiance to the republic, the evidence, the laws of the state of Arkansas,” Scheunemann said. “The judge threw all those out, called those lies … and literally threw out the citizen who was lawfully petitioning the government for redress of grievances within the rules of the meeting. I had three minutes. I was recognized and so forth. I was not disrespectful whatsoever. There was no grounds for my removal.”

Scheunemann continued, saying: “The judge had no evidence. He had no law. That road has been maintained for decades and the man that had the leadership, that had no law, no evidence and threw the citizen out in front of everyone. They followed him in absolute disregard of their oaths of office, and that’s a much bigger issue. Actually, that’s the primary issue. The secondary issue is the death threat and the third issue is the road — the little molehill that’s been turned into a mountain.”

Writer ejected Scheunemann from a quorum court meeting on Nov. 21, 2023, again after Scheunemann spoke during public comments about the maintenance of Spring Valley Road.

Writer, 60, is serving his first term as county judge. He is seeking re-election and is opposed in the March 3 Republican primary by challenger Dianna Baird of Eureka Springs. The winner of the Republican primary will face Democrat Jim Wallace of Eureka Springs in the November general election.