(Booking photo of Jimmy Dale Harness from 2020)
Embattled Searcy County Judge Jimmy Dale Harness has resigned as of Wednesday afternoon at 4:30.
According to Searcy County Clerk Deborah Loggins, Harness advised Justice of the Peace Wesley Smith he would be resigning that day.
A special quorum court meeting was then held Wednesday evening with 8 of 9 JPs present. At the meeting, JP Smith stood in for Harness and read his resignation.
A date has been set for September 2 to hold a special meeting of the quorum court to fill the vacant position.
Harness ran for re-election in the primary election, but was kicked from his seat in June when he received only 17% of votes against his three competitors to finish last. He will be suceeded by Tony Horton who won the Republican primary.
The issues for the former Searcy County judge began in June of 2020 when he was charged with a felony count of breaking or entering, and misdemeanor counts of criminal mischief, interference with emergency communications and harrassment. According to the probable cause affidavit, Harness forced his way into the home of his estranged wife in Marshall, where the woman and a guest were watching television.
He reportedly beat on the door several times, as well as a window, breaking the glass.
He then “kicked” the locked deadbolted door four to six times, forcibly entering the house, while causing pictures to fall from the wall.
After gaining entry, Harness allegedly began taking pictures of the woman and her guest.
The woman said she tapped her cellphone in an attempt to reach 911, and Harness reportedly seized the device.
In October of last year, Harness was sentenced to five years probation due to the domestic altercation. The sentence was handed down after Harness entered a no contest plea to the four charges. Under the no contest plea, Harness accepted conviction as though a guilty plea had been entered, but did not admit to guilt.
In January of this year, a petition was filed in Searcy County Circuit Court to remove Harness from office and a temporary restraining order be placed against him.
Online documents in the case to remove Harness from office noted Arkansas law states if a person has pleaded guilty or no contest or has been found guilty of a public trust crime, the person shall not hold a county elected office. A public trust crime is defined as one prohibited under the Arkansas Constitution.
In addition, the petition from the state requested a temporary restraining order prohibiting Harness from receiving compensation for those duties during the pending suit.
No information was provided as to why Harness suddenly resigned Wednesday. The county judge’s office states Harness is no longer in the building as of Thursday.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI