On Wednesday, March 13, 2024, the Saline County Courthouse was the scene for two criminal trials for Joseph Staggs, 38, of Sheridan. Circuit Judge Ken Casady found Staggs guilty of five offenses in back to back trials. Casady sentenced Staggs to 16 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections.
The first case before Casady concerned an April 8, 2023 arrest for possession of controlled substance. Saline County Sheriff Deputy Raelyn FaShank was on patrol on Cole Rd. She was on the lookout for a suspicious vehicle. She spotted the vehicle speeding 50 miles per hour in a 35 mile per hour zone and stopped the vehicle at Arch St. and Lorance Dr.
Staggs was the driver of the vehicle. He showed to be an absconder from the parole office and was wanted by authorities for violating the terms of his release.
After arresting Staggs, FaShank found methamphetamine in his pocket. He was later released from custody and ordered to appear in court on May 23, 2023.
On April 14, 2023, less than a week from the April 8 incident, Deputies Timothy Preator and Dalton Gregg observed a Chevrolet SUV driving without headlights near midnight at Sawmill Rd. and Arch St. The deputies turned on their blue lights, but the SUV failed to stop. The SUV continued down Arch St. until reaching Highway 167.
On 167, the SUV drove in the southbound lane while heading north. He returned to the correct lane after about 100 yards. The SUV increased its speed to 80 miles per hour before suddenly breaking. The pursuit continued onto Interstate 530 when Arkansas State Police troopers joined the pursuit. Trooper Joseph Killian performed a tactical vehicle intervention and the SUV stopped in a grassy area. Staggs, the driver of the SUV, would not exit the SUV when ordered to do so by the deputies.
At trial, the deputies and trooper testified that Staggs was belligerent and hysterical after being pulled from the SUV. He repeatedly yelled that he wanted the Arkansas State Police, Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, and Little Rock Police Department to arrive because Saline County was going to kill him. He also falsely claimed that he had been injured in the wreck.
Deputy Christopher Yates found 3 grams of methamphetamine on Staggs after his arrest. Staggs was again released from custody and ordered to appear in court on May 23, 2023. Staggs failed to appear in court for either arrest on May 23, 2023. After finding Staggs guilty of the two drug charges, fleeing, and missing court twice, Casady asked for sentencing recommendations.
After introducing Stagg’s convictions for robbery, residential burglary, theft of property, and possession of drug paraphernalia, the State asked for 20 years in prison. Staggs’s attorney requested a lower sentence.
Prosecuting Attorney Chris Walton thanked the diligent work of the Saline County Sheriff’s Office and Arkansas State Police in bringing Staggs to justice. Walton remarked, “Once again, another parolee with a history of violence was set loose on the streets of Saline County. I appreciate the work of the Governor and Attorney General in addressing our parole system and holding offenders to account. This case is yet another example that suspects that flee from law enforcement will be treated in a serious manner. Our juries and judges have shown little tolerance for this dangerous behavior.” Walton expects that under parole guidelines, Staggs will be eligible for parole in about 2.75 years.