Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Two Admit To Arson Of Emmet Gym

In a surprise move Wednesday, Richard Matthew Ward entered a plea of guilty to the charge of arson.

Ward, along with his wife, Latisha, had been charged with the burning of the Emmet School gymnasium on Nov. 19, 1996.

He had been scheduled to go on trial for this crime, Monday, Feb. 3. However, his trial was delayed because of the rape trial of DeChay Wilson (see related story) until Wednesday.

Prior to the trial date, Ward had been offered a plea arrangement of 40 years with 10 suspended, according to his attorney, Chuck Honey. This deal, Honey said, was not acceptable to Ward or his parents.

But, Wednesday morning, the deal was modified to a 40 year sentence with 18 suspended. This agreement was more acceptable and was accepted. Honey said Ward will actually have to do about five-and-a-half years before he is eligible for parole.

Latisha, on the other hand, was given the same deal, 40 years with 18 suspended, but is eligible for parole the next time the parole board meets. Honey said she could be considered for parole as early as March as the board meets quarterly.

She can be paroled so soon because she was sentenced as a first time offender. Matt Ward, on the other hand, cannot because of his prior record.

When the Emmet gym was burned, Ward was on probation in Hempstead County for residential burglary and theft of property.

According to Honey, while accepting the plea bargain, Ward told Eighth Judicial District Circuit-Chancery Judge Jim Gunter he was innocent of the crime, but feared he would be convicted and given a harsher sentence because of the burns he suffered on the night of the fire.

The gym fire was reported around 1:30 a.m., Nov. 19, while Ward was admitted into Medical Park Hospital in Hope for burns at 2:01 a.m.

Once the Wards are released from prison, as conditions of their suspended sentence, they must stay out of Hempstead and Nevada counties.

In addition, each must pay restitution in the amount of $100 per month for the full 18 years of the suspensions. This means each will pay $21,600 to the Emmet School District. However, the payments are to be made to the Nevada County Circuit Clerk's Office.

Matt Ward had also undergone a mental evaluation while incarcerated locally, with the testing done at the Southwest Arkansas Counseling and Mental Health Center, Inc. in Texarkana, Ark.

Ward, during the evaluation, admitted having a substance abuse problem, but was found not to suffer from severe mental illness either at the time of testing nor when the offense occurred.

The examiner stated for the court records Ward was competent to stand trial and did know right from wrong, though Ward scored on the low range of the tests. His IQ, according to the examiner, is 84.

Honey said the conditions of their suspended sentence should be no problem for Matt Ward as his parents have moved to El Dorado and this is where he will most likely go when released on parole.

Each of the Wards also was credited for time already served in the county jail, with Latisha getting credit for 78 days and Matt earning 62 days. This is because he was in Arkansas Children's Hospital due to his burns when he was arrested.

Latisha Ward was transported to the Arkansas Department of Corrections Women's Unit in Pine Bluff, while Matt has been placed on a priority list with the ADC.

Honey said Matt Ward, had he gone to trial, could have been sentenced to 10 to 40 years or life for the crime. Arson is a class Y felony, carrying this sentence.