Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Haltom Announces Candidacy

Brent Haltom, prosecuting attorney for the Eighth Judical District, announced today that he will seek re-lection for the district which serves Hempstead, Miller, Lafayette and Nevada counties in southwest Arkansas. Haltom has previously served the Eighth Judicial District as Deputy Prosecuting Attorney and as Special Drug Enforcement Prosecutor.

During Brent Haltom's tenure in office the district has seen a record nunmber of jury trials and substantial increases in sentences for drug offenders and major crimess. "When the people elected me as their Prosecuting Attorney they gave me a mandate to get the criminals off the streets and to obtain stronger senteces for drug trafficking and for major crimes. We've done this. Since my election to this office there have been a record number of successful jury trials resulting in longer prison sentences for criminals." he said. "I have also expanded the Victim Witness Coordination Program by adding full-time coordinators in Hempstead, Nevada and Lafayette counties," he said. The Miller County coordinator has been serving since 1988. "This program strives to help victims of crimes," he added.

Haltom is also responsible for the district's successful Hot Checks Program. "Since my election to office over a million dollars has been returned to merchants through recovery of hot checks. What makes this program unique and successful is that it has not cost the taxpayers one penny. The cost for this program is paid for by the hot check offenders through recovery fees," stated Haltom.

Haltom has also assisted in obtaining grant money for the Bi-State Narcotics Task Force covering Texarkana, Arkansas and Miller County, and the South Central Drug Task Force Covering Hempstead, Lafayette and Nevada Counties, and for DARE, the drug awareness program for juveniles in the district.

"I'm proud of my record as the people's prosecutor. I believe that I have experienced and qualified Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys working for the people with understanding and compassion," Haltom stated. "We're on the firing line fighting crime and drugs. I know of no other Prosecuting Attorney's office that has put more tough criminals away for longer than we have. I'm asking for the opportunity now to keep working for the people and for our community."

Haltom is a former City Attorney and has a law degree from the University of Arkansas. He is a father of three children and a member of the Arkansas Bar Association and the First Baptist Church.

The Arkansas Democratic primary is May 21st.