A Saline County youth pastor, school staff member, and church camp treasurer is suspected of embezzling over $23,000 from that church camp, according to documents from the Bryant Police Department. On March 19, 2024, Bryant officers began to investigate Phillip Batchelor, age 45, of Benton, on allegations of embezzlement. The police report states that the […]
Saline County man charged with over 1200 counts of sexual images of children
A Bryant man faces hundreds of charges involving images of children that were of a sexual nature. On the morning of Monday, September 18, 2023, the Saline County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Taskforce, along with the Bryant Police Department arrested Richard Jason Wilson, age 56, of Bryant. The suspect is already a […]
Benton man wanted for attempted murder after allegedly fleeing scene
Police seek a Benton man who allegedly beat a victim to near death and fled. Benton Police Department responded to a residence on Line Back Dunn Road at approximately 7:30 a.m. Thursday in reference to an escaped victim who had been held hostage and severely beaten. Officers canvassed the area and determined the suspect, Gary […]
Next door neighbor makes bail after Sunday arrest; Woman said she found him in her bedroom overnight
A Benton man is out of jail on bond after being arrested early Sunday morning – accused of breaking into his next door neighbor’s house because he was attracted to her. The victim stated in the police report that she turned on a light to find her neighbor in her bedroom. According to the report, […]
Woman faces murder charge after Saline County man found dead
On March 5, 2023 Deputies with the Saline County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to John Hildon Drive in reference to a medical call. Upon the deputy’s arrival, it was determined there was a deceased male, later identified as Patrick Pasteka, age 61, with an apparent gunshot wound inside his residence. Detectives with the Criminal Investigations […]
Benton woman turns herself in for shooting of two at Tyndall
UPDATE OCT 13, 2022 A woman has turned herself in for the shooting of two adults at Tyndall Park in Benton. Benton Police Department responded to Tyndall Park on the evening of September 20th for reports of shots fired. This incident followed a disturbance at the east entrance of the park among several individuals. The […]
Benton man arrested on 940 charges of child porn
A Benton man is in the Saline County Jail, arrested Friday on nearly a thousand child pornography charges. On September 30, 2022, The Saline County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) arrested a Ethan Robert Clark, age 32. They say he was in possession of child pornography-related images and videos. Detectives took […]
Saline County man gets 30 years for rape of girl under age 10
A Saline County jury deliberated only minutes before returning a 30-year sentence in the Arkansas Department of Correction for Sergio Sanchez-Gonzales on September 20, 2022 before the Honorable Ken Casady. Earlier in the day, the jury found Gonzales guilty of the rape of his juvenile relative. Sanchez-Gonzales, 45, of Mabelvale was accused of raping a […]
Sheriff: Man skips bail for Negligent Homicide and more charges; Likely skipped country too
A man has skipped bail on felony charges and likely fled to South America, according to the Saline County Sheriff’s Office. On October 17, 2021 at 11:37 p.m., Bayner Funes-Figueroa, age 22, was involved in a fatal accident in the 14000 block of Chicot Road. The victim was driving a 10-passenger van with his wife […]
Benton Man Sentenced to 50 Years for Murdering 2 Family Members
After more than two years of waiting, a Benton family sees justice for two murders by another family member. Luke Talbert, 31 of Benton, pled guilty to two counts of First-Degree Murder before Judge Josh Farmer on November 5, 2021. Talbert was sentenced to serve 50 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction. On October […]