June 20th, 2024

            Newton County Sheriff Glenn Wheeler said his office was contacted by an Arkansas State Police Trooper to assist with a traffic stop just outside Jasper. The Trooper had stopped Dakota Lynn Williams age 30, a parolee from Omaha, Ark. Newton County Chief Deputy Mike Blocker arrived on scene and assisted with the investigation.

            A new warrant for Williams' arrest had been issued earlier in the day and had not yet been entered into the system that lets Law Enforcement Officers know of wanted subjects. A search of the vehicle resulted in officers finding and seizing felony drug paraphernalia and a heavily modified shotgun that had the barrel sawn off and the buttstock cut down into a pistol type grip.

Not only is Williams currently on parole, he has been convicted of over a dozen felonies in the past and was back on the streets after serving less than two years on a five-year sentence. Considering the type of firearm Williams was carrying and his extensive criminal history, Newton County authorities contacted ATF agents to assist with making the firearms part of the charges a federal violation.

Locally, in addition to the warrant for Felony Possession of Controlled Substances and Misdemeanor Drug Paraphernalia, Williams is being charged with Possession of Firearms by Certain Persons (Convicted Felon), Felony Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Felony Criminal Use of Prohibited Weapons and two counts of Misdemeanor Drug Paraphernalia. The amount of felony convictions in his past should add a sentencing enhancement as a habitual offender.

Sheriff Wheeler said, "this is a great example of us working with state and federal agencies to take an offender off the streets that should have still been in prison. An offender who obviously has not changed his ways the last thirteen times he was convicted of felony violations in multiple states."

 

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