CRITTENDEN COUNTY, Ark. (WMC) – A major crackdown on crime is underway in Eastern Arkansas. State Police and prosecutors are teaming up with local law enforcement to get the bad guys off the street and in jail.
A former criminal defense attorney elected as the top prosecutor for Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, Greene, Mississippi, and Poinsett Counties told Action News 5 that her constituents asked her to get tough with criminals. Despite limited resources and manpower, she and her team are making good on a campaign promise to protect the citizenry.
“I hope it sends the message: don’t come here because we’re ready to go,” said Sonia F. Hagood, Prosecuting Attorney for Arkansas’ Second Judicial District.
Hagood recently announced her office won four First Degree Murder convictions in one day.
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“I want those people who want to commit crimes in my district,” said Hagood, “to know that if I prep that case for trial, you’re not getting a plea deal on the last day. It’s going to trial, and the community is going to decide what your punishment is.”
On Friday, January 12, a Mississippi County jury found three Blytheville residents guilty of killing Javion Sims in a gun battle where more than 75 rounds were fired in a residential area on a sunny afternoon in April of 2021.
Joel Williams was sentenced to 40 years in prison. Willavontae Westmorland and Tyree Johnson each received a sentence of 35 years.
In Crittenden County, a jury found Jotavion Ross guilty of killing 21-year-old Samuel Johnson in December 2022, shooting him three times in front of his West Memphis home. Ross received a sentence of 41 years in prison.
Hagood praised the detective work done by the West Memphis Police Department in cracking the case. WMPD Sgt. Matthew Jarrett said criminal convictions like Ross’ will help officers solve more cases in the future.
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“That will make us work harder,” Sgt. Jarrett told Action News 5, “because we know prosecutors are doing something, and this also gets a message out to the community that something is happening to the bad guys, don’t be afraid to come forward. Don’t be a silent victim.”
West Memphis Mayor Marco McClendon, in a statement provided to Action News 5 said:
This week, Arkansas State Police saturated Crittenden County, along with West Memphis Police and Marion Police.
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In eight hours, ASP said the East Arkansas Operation resulted in the arrests of 245 people, including 75 criminal arrests and 13 DWI arrests.
ASP said they also seized eight firearms and narcotics.
Up next for Attorney Hagood is getting Crittenden and Mississippi Counties designated high-drug trafficking areas to secure more federal funding.
“Memphis is, and all along the border of my district is,” she said, “designated high drug trafficking areas. With that comes a lot of gun violence, gang violence, and things like that, but for whatever reason we got left out. But in Crittenden and Mississippi Counties, there is a different kind of criminal. They’re very smart and they know the system.”
Hagood said police and prosecutors are also working with other agencies, leveraging community resources, to make sure kids stay in school, off the street, and away from a life of crime. She said they’re taking a multilevel approach to addressing what ails the community.
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A critical piece of that is letting criminals know there are repercussions if they get caught.
“They’re going to pay the consequences for it,” said Sgt. Jarrett, “if you do the crime, you’re going to have to do the crime. With these convictions, and hopefully, many more to come, it will continue to send that message.”
Arkansas State Police has provided extensive information on the crime operation which can be found on their website.
The office of Prosecuting Attorney Hagood also released the following:
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The Arkansas Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025 results for each game:
Winning Cash 3 numbers from Dec. 14 drawing
Evening: 0-8-3
Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 4 numbers from Dec. 14 drawing
Evening: 7-8-7-9
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Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 14 drawing
08-23-32-33-34, Lucky Ball: 15
Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Natural State Jackpot numbers from Dec. 14 drawing
06-11-17-18-37
Check Natural State Jackpot payouts and previous drawings here.
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Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Arkansas Lottery drawings held?
Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
Cash 3 Midday: 12:59 p.m. CT daily except Sunday.
Cash 3 Evening: 6:59 p.m. CT daily.
Cash 4 Midday: 12:59 p.m. CT daily except Sunday.
Cash 4 Evening: 6:59 p.m. CT daily.
Lucky For Life: 9:30 p.m. CT daily.
Natural State Jackpot: 8 p.m. CT daily except Sunday.
LOTTO: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.
Where can you buy lottery tickets?
Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.
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This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Arkansas editor. You can send feedback using this form.
This is “Arkies in the Beltway” for the week of Dec. 14, 2025! I’m Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.
[Click here to listen to the podcast.]
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Arkansas farm leaders are thankful for the White House’s plan to help agriculture, but they remain uneasy about farming’s immediate future.
The Trump administration plans to provide farmers across the country with one-time relief payments in the coming months. The package totals $12 billion, with row crop farmers set to receive most of the funds.
The Trump administration announced the relief package during a roundtable last Monday at the White House.
Two Arkansans — U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., and Crittenden County farmer Charles Williams — joined other lawmakers and farmers for the event.
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Read the full story in Monday’s edition of the Democrat-Gazette.
The Arkansas Army National Guard continues its mission in the nation’s capital. Roughly 100 National Guard members arrived in Washington, D.C., earlier this month to assist local law enforcement.
The topic of deploying National Guard units to cities across the country was the subject of a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing last Thursday.
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., serves on the committee. The Little Rock senator defended the president’s ability to use the National Guard and military units in American cities, citing President Dwight Eisenhower’s 1957 decision to send federal troops to Little Rock to desegregate Little Rock Central High School.
STORY: Cotton defends Trump’s National Guard deployments to U.S. cities, compares them to Central High crisis
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The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced David Clay Fowlkes’ nomination to the full chamber for its consideration.
President Donald Trump nominated Fowlkes to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas. The Arkansan currently serves as the district’s U.S. attorney.
STORY: U.S. Senate committee advances Fowlkes judicial nomination
Thank you for supporting “Arkies in the Beltway!” You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky for more developments from the nation’s capital!
Bill Bowden covers a variety of news for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, primarily in Northwest Arkansas. He has worked at the newspaper for 16 years and previously worked for both the Arkansas Democrat and Arkansas Gazette.
