Michael Hobbs II (Photo courtesy of Baxter County Sheriff’s Office)
Michael Ransom Hobbs, II of Mountain Home, who was recently sentenced to 11 years in prison after his probation was revoked in two cases — one filed in 2017 and the other in 2018 — appeared during a session of Baxter County Circuit Court Monday,
It was also announced that he wanted to fire his current lawyer, the sixth to be involved in his cases. The lawyers have come from either the Public Defender’s Office or hired privately to represent him.
His most recently hired and then fired lawyer, John Barttelt of Hardy, entered his appearance on February 27. He asked to be relieved as attorney of record in the Hobbs’ cases on Monday.
Barttelt told the court that he and Hobbs had reached a total impasse on how to handle his cases.
Hobbs has also filed an appeal acting as his own lawyer based on the same argument he has presented from the beginning – that he was not on probation at the time and therefore the court could not find him in violation of the terms and conditions of probation.
Hobbs writes that he is proceeding as his own lawyer because his current attorney had “advised me not to appeal.” Barttelt confirmed that to the court, “I did not file an appeal, it was filed against my advice.”
In addition to the two revocation cases, Hobbs is facing charges in a number of criminal cases, most of which are drug-related.
Since the first criminal case was filed against Hobbs in 2016, other cases were opened in 2017, 2018, 2021, 2023 and 2024.
During the periods when he has acted his own attorney, Hobbs filed more than 50 motions, most espousing legal theories more compatible with the off-the-wall thinking of groups such as the Sovereign Citizen than with more “conventional” law.
The filings include motions to dismiss, motions to suppress evidence, motions to “quash sham complaint,” motions to find prosecutorial fraud, motions to find violations of his right to a speedy trial, an “affidavit of truth” and a motion to have his cases heard by what he terms arbitrators.
Arbitrators are not used in criminal cases.
Hobbs filed one motion asking that his criminal cases be dismissed alleging that “the prosecution of the cases is being funded by the State of Arkansas which creates a conflict of interest for the prosecution’s team, as they are all paid by the same entity seeking to convict the defendant.”
The contention there is a “conflict of interest” is basically nonsensical. Prosecutors represent the state, and the job of a prosecutor is to convict defendants accused of committing crimes.
In some documents he has filed with the courts, Hobbs identifies himself as “National of United States of America, non-subject, non-resident, non-citizen, native Arkansas (sic) and Natural Person.”
The wording in some of his motions is similar to that used in filings done by individuals who are members of a group known as Sovereign Citizens or who have had access to the group’s material.
Hobbs’ understanding of the legal system is, by his own admission, extremely limited. At the end of one document, he wrote an odd battle cry: “Let justice prevail, even if the heavens shall fall!”
Court records do not show that any action was taken on the motions he has filed during the period he represented himself. Generally, if a motion is not acted on within 30 days, it can be deemed denied.
THE CASES
The open cases against Hobbs are:
July 9, 2021, Hobbs was found “passed out” behind the wheel of a vehicle sitting in the driving lane instead of a parking sport. The engine was reported running, the vehicle was in gear and Hobbs’ foot was on the brake.
Mountain Home Police officers located drugs and paraphernalia to ingest drugs. Hobbs was alleged to have had methamphetamine, marijuana and 62 Oxycodone pills.
November 23, 2021, Hobbs was arrested for selling two ounces of methamphetamine to a person working with law enforcement for $1,200.
Investigators reported the confidential source (CS) went to a predetermined location to meet Hobbs. After Hobbs arrived, the CS got into Hobbs’ vehicle and the money for meth exchange was made.
After some conversation about future drug deals, the CS left Hobbs’ vehicle and went to a location where the source met with investigators.
September 2021, Hobbs was again accused of selling a quantity of methamphetamine to a confidential source (CI). In this sale, Hobbs sold what he said was almost 27 grams of meth for $600.
February 6, 2023, Mountain Home police pulled a vehicle over for having expired registration. When an officer approached the car, he reported seeing a broken glass pipe commonly used to ingest methamphetamine sitting on the center console. In addition to a second glass pipe, officers also found a quantity of a substance field testing positive for methamphetamine in Hobbs’ front pants pocket.
February 18, 2024 – Hobbs was involved in another traffic stop during which drugs and drug paraphernalia were found.
Since his first cases were filed in 2016, Hobbs’ charges have included theft of property, criminal trespassing, contempt of court and multiple drug-related charges including possession of methamphetamine and paraphernalia used to make and use methamphetamine.
Hobbs has made many appearances in circuit court. During one trip to the court complex, he passed out. Video from security cameras in the building show Hobbs and a female sitting on a bench in the main entry hallway.
As Hobbs talked with his public defender, his head could be seen tilting forward as the female pats him. Law officers responded and put Hobbs on the floor where chest compressions were applied and Narcan administered.
Narcan is primarily used to treat people suspected of experiencing an opioid overdose. Opioids can slow or stop a person’s breathing, leading to death. Narcan helps the user wake up and keep breathing.
WEST MEMPHIS THREE
Hobbs has written that he feels discriminated against by local police because, he alleges, they have pointed out that his uncle is the stepfather of one of the 8-year-old boys killed in West Memphis in a case widely known as the “West Memphis Three.”
The three young men charged in the 1993 murders spent 18 years behind bars before being released.
CIVIL SUIT FILED IN FEDERAL COURT
According to federal court records, Hobbs also filed a suit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas. Many individuals and entities were initially listed as defendants in the original suit.
The defendants/or entities included the Baxter County jail, Prosecuting Attorney David Ethredge, Jailer Joe Willbanks, Deputy Public Defender James Wallace, jail employees Tabitha Maze and L. Powell, Mountain Home police officer Zachary Byrd and the City of Mountain Home.
The complaints in Hobbs’ federal lawsuit were eventually dismissed.
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