Gov. Sanders appoints NEA residents to boards

LITTLE ROCK — Gov.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Friday appointed the following Northeast Arkansas residents to boards in the state.

Steven Kueter, Paragould, to the Arkansas Catfish Promotion Board. Term to expire June 30, 2026. Reappointment.

Lendol Falwell, Newport, to the Arkansas Corn and Grain Sorghum Promotion Board.

Term to expire July 1, 2026.

Reappointment.

Joshua Cureton, Cash, to the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Term to expire June 30, 2025. Reappointment.

Matthew Roberson, Wynne, to the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Term to expire June 30, 2026. Replaces Russell Smith.

Matt Smith, Blytheville, to the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Term to expire June 30, 2026. Replaces Douglas Hartz. Becton Bell, Wilson, to the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board. Term to expire June 30, 2026. Replaces Joe Christian.

Carl Phillips, Walnut Ridge, to the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board. Term to expire June 30, 2026. Replaces John King.

Paul Schwarz, Jonesboro, to the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board. Term to expire June 30, 2026. Replaces Roger Pohlner.

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JONESBORO — Doug Brimhall, scheduled to take office Jan. 1 as a circuit court judge, entered into a plea agreement Thursday to settle a domestic violence case.

Brimhall, 40, of Jonesboro, had originally been charged with felony aggravated assault on a family or household

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member and misdemeanor domestic battery.

A felony conviction would have jeopardized his future as a judge.

“Mr. Brimhall chose to resolve this matter today by pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge of harassment and believes it is in the overall best interest of his family,” defense attorneys Bill Stanley, Randel Miller and Paul Ford said in a joint statement following the brief court session. “He looks forward to reconciliation of all damaged relationships; and further requests that the privacy of his entire family – on both sides of this matter – be respected.”

When asked if the harassment conviction could prevent Brimhall from serving as a judge, the attorneys responded: “Mr. Brimhall looks forward to taking the bench and fulfilling the obligations and responsibilities of the office that was entrusted to him by the electorate of this community.”

Brimhall was charged with the crimes in May. Retired judge Robert Edwards of Searcy was appointed to preside over the case after all 12 judges in the 2nd Judicial District cited conflicts of interest.

Likewise, Robert Thomas Jones of Little Rock was appointed as a special prosecutor because Brimhall had served as a deputy prosecutor in Craighead County, and 2nd District Prosecuting Attorney Sonia Hagood cited a conflict. The district includes not only Craighead, but Clay, Crittenden, Greene, Mississippi and Poinsett counties.

Jones said he considered “the overall consideration of fairness, justice, wishes of the victim,” in agreeing to the settlement.

Harassment is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a fine of up to $2,500. Under terms of the plea agreement any jail time is suspended for one year on condition that Brimhall perform 40 hours of public service work by the end of this year. He is already enrolled in the Arkansas Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program (JLAP) and was ordered to continue alcohol and anger management programs through JLAP. Fines and court costs total $1,190, payable at a rate of $100 per month.

Brimhall resigned from his job on May 6, two days after Jonesboro police received a criminal complaint.

According to a probable cause affidavit, “Officers were advised that on the night of 5/3/2024, Douglas Brimhall arrived back from the Jonesboro Country Club intoxicated. Mr. Brimhall then proceeded to enter a room with his wife and when exiting later, was only in his underwear,” Jonesboro police said. “He then proceeded to walk into (victim’s) room, where he laid next to the victim, attempting to wake her up. The victim became angry at Mr. Brimhall for waking her and a verbal altercation occurred.”

Brimhall then dumped a bottle of water onto the victim, berated her and left the room, police said.

Brimhall’s wife, two witnesses and the victim then went to another residence.

“After staying for a while, the children became hungry and left. When returning, Mr.

Brimhall’s wife reviewed cameras within her residence to see if she sees anything.

After reviewing the cameras for several minutes, Mr.

Brimhall’s wife didn’t see anything and it was decided to return to their residence,” Jonesboro police said. “Witness 2 arrives first and observes Mr. Brimhall outside, still in his underwear.”

The second witness then called someone and “informs her, not to come home,” according to the affidavit.

“Witness 2 is advised that they needed to get Mr.

Brimhall back inside of the house. When witness 2 leaves, she observes (redacted name) vehicle driving toward the residence and follows her back home. When Mr.

Brimhall’s wife returns, she observed Mr. Brimhall still outside. Mr. Brimhall then proceeds to jump onto his wife’s vehicle, breaking the front windshield,” Jonesboro police said in the affidavit.

“This scares witness 1 (front passenger) and victim exits the vehicle yelling at (redacted name). Victim then proceeds to throw a drink at Mr. Brimhall, resulting in a physical altercation. Victim stated that Mr. Brimhall then grabs her by the arms and pushes her into the yard. Mr.

Brimhall then places his right arm on the victim’s arm and his left hand around the victim’s neck, choking her.”

The victim told police she could barely breathe and, at one point, could not breathe.

Both Brimhall and the victim then fell to the ground. According to police, Brimhall’s wife then told Brimhall to get off the victim and go inside, which he did.

Several witnesses also told police that Brimhall appeared to be intoxicated with one witness saying he was “drunk, drunk,” according to the affidavit.