Randall Alan Melton III, age 32, was booked in to the Benton County Detention Center Center earlier this week with a Domestic Battering in the Third Degree (prior offenses) – felony” charge.
Domestic battering in the third degree is usually a misdemeanor, but becomes a a Class D felony if:
(A) Committed against a woman the person knew or should have known was pregnant;
(B) The person committed one (1) or more of the following offenses within five (5) years of the offense of domestic battering in the third degree:
(i) Domestic battering in the first degree, § 5-26-303;
(ii) Domestic battering in the second degree, § 5-26-304;
(iii) Domestic battering in the third degree;
(iv) Aggravated assault on a family or household member, § 5-26-306; or
(v) A violation of an equivalent penal law of this state or of another state or foreign jurisdiction; or
(C) The person committed two (2) or more offenses of battery against a family or household member as defined by a law of this state or by an equivalent law of any other state or foreign jurisdiction within ten (10) years of the offense of domestic battering in the third degree.
Melton, who lives in Bella Vista, has faced a variety of charges in Arkansas dating back to 2013 – everything from a failure to appear, to various drug charges.
In 2018, Melton graduated the Benton County Drug Court program.
He remains in the BCDC on a no-bond hold.
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