Snarky Media Report

We have repeatedly pointed out the problem ABC Enforcement and law enforcement agencies in Arkansas have using under age individuals in entrapment/compliance operation. Arkansas law specifically prohibits an underage individual from attempting to purchase alcoholic beverages and has no exception for an underage individual working with law enforcement agencies in entrapment/compliance operations. There is however such an exception in the laws concerning tobacco products that sanctions Arkansas Tobacco Control and other agencies and permits underage individuals to assist in compliance operations. If using underage individuals was legal in these types of law enforcement operations, there would be no need to have an exception in the law for Tobacco Control.   Why has the ABC never sought to legalize the use of underage individuals in alcohol compliance  operations? They have no comment. Courts have long held that the primary rule of statutory construction is to give effect to the intent of

WHY WAS TAINTED ABC ENFORCEMENT DIRECTOR BOYCE HAMLET NOT ASKED TO ASSIST? Last week the U. S. Attorney and the Office of Inspector General of the Social Security Administration ("OIG-SSA") revealed the details of a major investigation in Little Rock and it's outcome.  The individual that they investigated ran an unlicensed bar connected with a strip club/ brothel.  We expected tweets and emails to C arlton Saffa from tainted ABC Enforcement Director Boyce Hamlet claiming credit boasting that his "most elite law enforcement agency in Arkansas" had busted another bootlegger and saved countless females from the plight of sex trafficking. Well, we can report that did not happen because the OIG-SSA, nor did anyone with the Arkansas Attorney General's office, include Hamlet or his agency in the investigation.  In fact, the ABC had no idea what was going on.    Back in December 2015, the SSA-OIG partnered with the Arkansas Attorney General's Off

MARK A. BROOKE - HANDCUFFED AND HEADED TO JAIL Mark Brooke, a probation officer for the city of Ward and p astor of Cornerstone Assembly in Ward , has been arrested on a charge of solicitation of prostitution after arrangements for sex were made with an undercover detective. The Lonoke County sheriff’s office said in a statement that it began an undercover investigation after receiving complaints of possible unethical actions involving Brooke. Brooke made “lewd and inappropriate comments” while talking with the undercover detective posing as a probationer. Brooke later made arrangements for sex in exchange for money with the detective while using his city-provided cellphone.   Brooke was arrested around 2:30 p.m. January 18th by Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley and sheriff’s detectives. LONOKE CO. SHERIFF JOHN STALEY Staley stated that it is never good when someone in a position of authority takes advantage of those in difficult situations; this is unacceptable and will not

  FORMER MONTICELLO MAYOR ZACK TUCKER (ON LEFT) Back on September 18th we posted a story about Monticello Mayor Zack Tucker.  Tucker had been arrested and charged with  tampering with a public record (Class D Felony) and abuse of office (Class B misdemeanor).  You can read our previous post here . In a Drew County Circuit Court filing Tuesday, Tucker's attorney, Hani Hashem of Monticello, wrote that Tucker had "engaged in significant negotiations regarding a plea agreement." HANI HASHEM Hashem wrote that Tucker has agreed to enter a guilty plea and will pay immediate restitution. The former mayor told Circuit Judge Bynum Gibson that he had secured more than 50 percent of the amount required for restitution and that a family member had agreed to cosign a loan for the remaining amount. Tucker said the paperwork securing the loan was submitted to a bank, which would determine if it would lend funds based upon the family member's signature. If the bank denies the loan ap

In two previous posts ( here and here ) we have detailed less that cooperative response from David Ethredge, the Boone County Prosecuting Attorney, and Rhonda Watkins, the Boone County Circuit Clerk, in their complying with the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.   DAVID ETHREDGE & RHONDA WATKINS This evening at approximately 6:30PM, the publisher of this blog received a certified envelope from Watkins that contained these documents .   The first document in the pack e t was a co py of a Motion to Seal, for a civil court case . Back o n December 16th, we sent a FOI request to the Boone County Circuit Clerk using the email address "jsteen@boonecounty-ar.gov".  We obtained that email address from an online document located at here . We never received a response, nor did we receive any message from the county email server that the email address we used was not active. Then on January 9th, we contacted the Boone County Circuit Clerk's office by telephone, inquiring as

Documents obtained from the Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District ("NWAEDD") revel that former state Representative and now convicted felon Micah Neal along with outgoing state Senator Jon Woods, state Senator Bart Hester and state Representative Jana Della Rosa directed GIF monies totaling almost $50,000 from NW Arkansas to a questionable entity in Central Arkansas (Benton-Saline County), Arkansas Health and Economic Research, Inc. ("AHER").     NEAL, WOODS, HESTER & DELLA ROSA AHER claimed in the documents that it was "a repository for knowledge and understanding of health research equipment and alternative health practices. As a result of identifying and researching these types of alternative modalities, such as the use of minerals and the use of applied Ozone Therapy to prevent or treat certain health aliments, we will provide economic development in Arkansas via connecting Arkansas businesses with established distribution channels, manufact