Special judge appointed in Brimhall assault case

JONESBORO — Arkansas Supreme Court Chief Justice John Dan Kemp has appointed former Circuit Judge Robert Edwards to preside over a case involving a circuit judge-elect who was arrested by police earlier this year.

Late Monday, Circuit Judge Chris Thyer filed paperwork in Craighead County Circuit Court to not hear the case involving Doug Brimhall. He was the 12th circuit judge to recuse himself from hearing the criminal case.

Brimhall, 40, who was elected March 5, was arrested May 21 on suspicion of aggravated assault on a family or household member and domestic battery-3rd degree.

Jonesboro police had been investigating a case involving Brimhall and a May 3 incident on Prestwick Circle in Jonesboro.

In his order, Thyer said he wished to avoid the appearance of impropriety in not hearing the case.

The other circuit judges in the district, which includes Clay, Crittenden, Craighead, Greene, Mississippi and Poinsett counties, have also recused themselves from hearing the case.

They include Circuit Judges Pam Honeycutt, Mary Broadaway, Tonya M. Alexander, Scott Ellington, Randy Philhours, Keith Chrestman, Melissa Richardson, Richard Lusby, Kimberly Bibb, Charles M. “Skip” Mooney Jr. and Dan Ritchey.

Earlier, Chief Justice Kemp named a special prosecutor to handle the case, as well as had Edwards preside over the probable cause hearing.

Brimhall is still scheduled to be arraigned Friday in Craighead County Circuit Court.

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LITTLE ROCK — An Arkansas state trooper has resigned from his position after being arrested for driving while intoxicated on the evening of June 27.

31-year-old Mitch Smothers was charged with DWI and endangering the welfare of a minor due to two children being in the vehicle with him after the Washington County Sheriff’s Office responded to a single-vehicle rollover wreck on Winn Creek Road.

“I’m deeply disappointed and thank God no one was injured. I’ve said from day one that when we mess up, we will dress up and fess up. This is a difficult moment for the

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SMOTHERS STATE

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Arkansas State Police organization, but we will manage it with transparency and integrity,' said Colonel Mike Hagar.

Smothers was transported to the Washington County Detention Center.

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Funds available to address regional water infrastructure needs

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced Arkansas is providing $60 million to address statewide water infrastructure needs. This includes $55 million to address water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure projects and $5 million for the Arkansas Rural Water Association to assist water and wastewater systems across the state. The legislature approved these funds in Arkansas Legislative Council (ALC) on June 21, 2024.

“My administration has worked with our federal partners to appropriately put money into Arkansas’ water infrastructure development, and this announcement adds to that commitment,” said Sanders. “Every Arkansan deserves safe and accessible drinking water, and with this funding, we will move closer to that goal.”

“Water and wastewater infrastructure systems are critically important to the everyday lives of all Arkansans,” said Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward. “We appreciate Governor Sanders’ consistent leadership on water issues and will work diligently to utilize these newly approved funds, as well as our existing programs and efforts, to meet water and wastewater needs across the state.”

These federal funds build on existing efforts to improve water and wastewater infrastructure in the state and provide dependable services, Arkansas is administering over $2.5 billion for water development projects in all 75 counties using state and federal funds. To be eligible for the funding announced today, water and wastewater projects must be on the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) waitlist approved by the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission (ANRC) in December 2022. Projects will receive funding based on their readiness to proceed to construction and must expense all funds by Dec. 31, 2026.

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Woman arrested after threatening to ‘blow up’

Arkansas governor

FORT SMITH — An Arkansas woman appeared Wednesday in court on charges she threatened to blow up Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and her office, prosecutors said.

Susan Scott, 66, of Fort Smith, was charged with threatening to cause a catastrophe and battery of an officer in the second-degree, both felonies, Sebastian County Prosecuting Attorney Daniel Shue said in a news release.

Police said on June 14, Scott was still making threats against Sanders when they went to arrest her at her home. Scott resisted arrest and 'head-butted' an officer, according to an affidavit.

Scott appeared before Circuit Judge R. Gunner DeLay without an attorney and the public defender's office was appointed to represent her, Shue said. A plea of not guilty was entered on her behalf, he said.

A telephone message left with the public defender's office was not immediately returned. DeLay set bond for Scott at $500,000. A trial date has not been set.