Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Gifts Lead To Theft Charges

A 27-year-old Gurdon man has been charged with residential burglary in connection with the theft of 19 firearms.

According to court records, on Dec. 21, 2000, a Clark County Sheriff's deputy was sent to an Okolona residence where he was told the weapons had been taken.

Arkansas State Police criminal investigator Scott Clark was called in, and, with information provided by an informant, it was discovered two of the weapons had been given away.

A .357-caliber rifle had reportedly been given to Rusty Jester by Jason Hammons, who also allegedly gave Jimmy Sloss a 9mm Baretta.

These weapons were confiscated by Gurdon City Marshal Don Childres, who showed them to Ed McClure who identified them as being his and stolen from his home.

Jester, the records state, said he and Sloss were at Jester's home when Hammons showed up and gave him the rifle. Sloss went with Hammons and was given the handgun as a gift.

When questioned, Hammons told Clark he had bought the weapons for $365 from an unidentified black male at the Red-E-Mart on Highway 53.

Hammons said he'd never seen the man before and hasn't seen him since, but did admit to giving the weapons to Jester and Sloss as gifts.

Hammons was subsequently charged with residential burglary.