Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Elderly Emmet Man Pleads Guilty To Lesser Charge

A 70-year-old Emmet man got his day in court Monday, Dec. 8, agreeing to plead guilty for a reduced sentence.

Wilbur Poindexter, who had been charged with aggravated assault on March 21, entered the plea so the charge would be reduced from a class D felony to a class A misdemeanor.

A class D felony carries a possible sentence of six years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections and a fine of no more than $10,000.

Three days had been set aside for the Poindexter trial this week, but all were canceled with the plea agreement.

According to court records, Nevada County Sheriff's Office reserve deputies Jerry Reeves and Larry Miller responded to a call for backup from reserve officer Russell Daniels on Highway 32, about a mile east of the Hempstead County line.

Upon arriving, they were told Gary Poindexter, a suspect being chased, had dropped a weapon and fled into the woods. They were informed he may be heading to his father's house in the area.

Reeves, Miller and then reserve deputy Bernard Box walked west along Hwy. 32 when they noticed a vehicle leaving a residence.

The reports state Miller and Box went back for their patrol cars while the others went to the vehicle leaving the driveway.

Reeves stated the vehicle with an elderly man and woman inside, passed him and pulled over, with the man getting out asking what was happening in a loud voice.

The records state the man told who he and his wife were (Mr. And Mrs. Wilbur Poindexter) and where they lived. The deputy, according to the reports, yelled back at the man, telling him "not to get in my face", with Poindexter turning and heading back to his car.

According to the reports, the deputy heard the woman say, "No, no, don't" while Poindexter allegedly reached into the back of the car.

Reeves, the records state, saw what appeared to be the stock of a weapon and began running toward the vehicle yelling to the other officers Poindexter was armed.

The two wrestled for the weapon, a 12 gauge shotgun, with Reeves getting help from Miller to get the weapon from the elderly man.

Poindexter was placed under arrest and taken to the Nevada County Jail.