Yet another possible misstep has arisen concerning a candidate for the office of County Prosecutor in Crawford County in what has been a series of questionable campaign tactics and judgements over the past several months.
In what appears to be a violation of state campaign ethics, current Crawford County prosecutor Robert Presley and Crawford County Sheriff Ron Brown participated in a campaign video posted on candidate Rinda Baker's Facebook page. The production of the video and the county official's participation appears to violate Arkansas state law A.C.A 7-1-103.
Arkansas state law A.C.A 7-1-103 states: "It shall be unlawful for any public servant to devote any government property, time or labor during usual office hours toward the campaign of any other candidate for office or for the nomination to any office."
It appears by the wording of that law, Baker, Presley and Brown could all potentially be in violation of the tenets of A.C.A 7-1-103.
You can view the video by clicking here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=645552749603458 .
Today in Fort Smith was contacted by a concerned Crawford County resident who expressed concern the campaign video was produced on county property and the two county officials participated during "usual office hours". Another source said the video was produced at "lunch time" on Friday, but both county employees are salaried and therefore were technically "at work".
Also, the law in question states "No election official acting in his or her official capacity shall do any electioneering on any election day or any day on which early voting is allowed."
Since early voting was in effect on the day the video was produced, there is an appearance that part of the law may have been violated as well.
Baker had already come under scrutiny earlier in February when she possibly violated state child pornography laws by duplicating pictures of a teenage victim of a sex crime and releasing a disc containing the photos to the prosecuting attorney's office.
Ryan Norris of that office immediately filed a Notice to the Court about the breach of the discovery process and a hearing was held February 12 to address the matter. Circuit Judge Gary Cottrell ruled the action violated state law but said the release was "accidental" in nature and the matter was dropped.
The latest incident comes on the heels of that controversary, but it's not the first time the candidate and the sheriff have seemingly violated at least the letter of the law concerning A.C.A 7-1-103.
In August of 2019 shortly after announcing her candidacy, Baker was a guest at a monthly law enforcement breakfast that was held "in the back" of the Crawford County sheriff office complex on US Highwway 64.
Two different attendees at that event told Today in Fort Smith on Friday that Sheriff Brown introduced her to those in attendance by making a few "gracious" remarks in support of the Alma-based attorney's candidacy. Again, this clearly indicates "electioneering" on the part of Brown on county property during usual business hours.
There is also a second video of Brown endorsing Baker that was posted to her campaign's Facebook page on January 10, 2020 that appears to have been shot inside a county office. You can view that clip by clicking here: http:s://www.facebook.com/voterindabaker/videos/3246652272017384/
In a related matter, another citizen has stepped forth with a complaint that a woman arrested for False Imprisonment who was represented by a local attorney who has endorsed Baker for the prosecutor's position may have received "preferrential treatment" from Baker in her capacity as "chief deputy prosecutor".
The defendant was charged with False Imprisonment, Terroristic Threatening, and Domestic Battery but was allowed to enter a negotiated plea to the False Imprisonment charge in March 2019. The other charges were dropped and the defendant was given a 12-month suspended sentence.
We have reproduced the official court records (redacted) of the case, including the charges and sentencing order, from Arkasas Court Connect:
The defense attorney in the case, Marvin J. Honeycutt, is listed on Baker's website as having endorsed the candidate for the Crawford County Prosecutors position.
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