Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Gurdon man sentenced to prison in '06 slaying

A Gurdon man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after entering into a plea agreement with prosecutors in connection with a 2006 stabbing death in Gurdon.

L.J. Green, 36, of 606 S. Third St., was originally charged with second degree murder in connection with the killing of 45-year-old James Bell IV of Gurdon on Dec. 16, 2006, according to records on file in the Clark County Circuit Clerks office. In a plea agreement filed by the prosecuting attorneys office on Jan. 7, Green pled guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter, a class C felony. The maximum jail time was 10 years.

Court records indicate that the Gurdon Police Department responded to a report of a stabbing at 319 Childres St. on Dec. 16, 2006. Upon arrival, Bell was found lying on the ground, unresponsive, with an apparent stab wound to his left bicep area. The wound had apparently cut the brachial artery and Mr. Bell had lost a great deal of blood prior to the arrival of medical personal, an affidavit on file states.

Bell was transported by ambulance to Baptist Health Medical Center-Arkadelphia where he was pronounced dead.

Later in the evening, Green was brought to the Gurdon Police Department by his sister, court records state. He was interviewed by investigators from the Arkansas State Police and the Clark County Sheriffs Department. Records indicate that Green told police that Bell had pulled a knife on him and he pulled his own in self defense.

The affidavit states that Green admitted to cutting Bell. He was placed under arrest and transported to the Clark County Jail.

This incident occurred outdoors, so there was nothing that would prevent Mr. Green from leaving the area to prevent the altercation, the affidavit states. Rather, Mr. Green chose to stand his ground and fight, cutting Mr. Bell on the left side of his neck and on the top of his had, as wll as the fatal stab wound on the inside of the left bicep.

Clark County Prosecutor Blake Batson said the reduction in charges was a result of further evidence and lengthy discussions with investigators. The original charge of second-degree murder, a class A felony, calls for a purposeful intent to harm, while a manslaughter charge states a reckless intent to harm, Batson said. Manslaughter is a class C felony, punishable by a term of three to 10 years in prison.

Batson said he had also had discussions with Bells family about the case. We all just felt this was the best resolution, he said.

Green had three former convictions, breaking and entering and battery in 1994, terroristic threatening and possession of a firearm in 1998 and domestic battery in 2003.

In addition to the 10-year prison sentence, Green was also given 10 years suspended imposition of sentence, which can be assessed if he violates any of the terms of his release from prison. This additional sentence was added onto Greens sentence due to his criminal history, Batson said.

According to notes written by Circuit Judge John Thomas on Greens docket sheet, Green was also fined $150 in court costs, $150 for public defender fee, and a $250 DNA fee. The fines and fees are payable in monthly installments beginning 60 days after release from prison, the notes indicate.

(Donna Hilton of the Daily Siftings Herald contributed to this report.)