Photos: Heather Johnson Beustring Lewis and William Joshua “Billy” Lewis Jr.
A Gassville couple now jailed on a number of felony charges has had a combined total of 19 criminal cases opened against them stretching back to 2007.
Through the years, charges filed against 34-year-old Heather Johnson Beustring Lewis and a man identified as her current husband, 33-year-old William “Billy” Joshua Lewis Jr., have included theft of property, theft by receiving, drug possession, breaking or entering, residential burglary, possession of a firearm by a felon and simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms.
Billy Lewis’ first criminal case was filed in 2007, followed by the initial case against Heather Lewis in 2013.
The couple appeared in Baxter County Circuit Court Thursday in which all of the participants were brought together via a closed circuit television hookup made necessary by restrictions put on court operations by the COVID-19 pandemic. Judge John Putman, his case manager and court reporter were all in different locations in Harrison, William and Heather Lewis were in the Baxter County Detention Center, Deputy Public Defender Sam Pasthing was in Flippin and 14th Judicial District Prosecutor David Ethredge was in the court complex in downtown Mountain Home.
During the session, preliminary matters were taken up in a number of cases, including those involving the Lewis couple.
In late January, Heather Lewis and her husband were allegedly involved in stealing catalytic converters from three vehicles parked at the home of her parents along County Road 69.
According to the probable cause affidavit in that case, surveillance camera footage from a neighboring residence is reported to show Billy Lewis crawling under two of the vehicles and working by flashlight. The third vehicle was out of range of the camera.
A $3,000 diamond ring was also found missing from the residence. The ring had allegedly been taken earlier and was not found to be missing until the January incident. Records show Heather Lewis pawned the ring.
Arrest warrants were issued for both Billy and Heather Lewis in connection with the thefts. She was picked up and jailed Feb. 24 and freed on bond.
He was not located at the time, but was arrested by a fugitive task force from the Arkansas Department of Community Corrections April 16.
Another case filed against Lewis involves the alleged theft of pickup trucks late last year.
While out on bond, Heather Lewis was arrested April 15 for shoplifting. According to the probable cause affidavit, the latest incident was the fifth time she has allegedly stolen from the same store since 2009. In all, the items taken during the thefts were valued at about $1,600.
In the newest criminal case stemming from the shoplifting incident, Heather Lewis is charged with commercial burglary committed while a state of emergency is in effect for the area where the theft occurred.
According to the legislative history of the act, the seldom-used charge was created mainly to deal with looting following storms and other natural disasters. But, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in emergency declarations at both the state and national level.
The fact a declaration was in effect bumps the crime up to a Class D felony, carrying a penalty of up to six years in prison, with a fine not to exceed $10,000.
Heather Lewis is due to reappear in circuit court May 14 to be arraigned on her new charge and in mid-October on several of her other cases. It is likely the television hookup will be utilized on that date as well.
Billy Lewis entered a not guilty plea Thursday. The court will issue a scheduling order in his cases, according to Judge Putman
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