The termination of an analyst at the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory (ASCL) in Little Rock is having ripple effects on drug-related cases in Baxter County.
According to a letter from the ASCL dated Sept. 24, it was revealed that four days earlier, the former employee was terminated because of “ethical concerns regarding her tampering with another analyst’s case work equipment.”
The actions taken by the former employee could have tainted test results provided to courts across the state. ASCL officials say that substances that might have involved the former employee can be retested if necessary.
While local law enforcement agencies field test substances found on suspects, the substances are in most cases sent to ASCL for more testing to verify the initial results.
There were announcements related to four drug cases in Baxter County during a circuit court session Monday.
Two people arrested on drug charges said they wanted to continue with their guilty pleas and admitted that the substances they had in their possession when taken into custody were illegal.
Fifty-six-year-old Stephanie Camp of Mountain Home was pulled over in mid-February for having an expired license tag on her vehicle.
She was found in possession of cocaine, marijuana and paraphernalia used to ingest drugs.
Camp was sentenced to six-years-probation.
Timothy Philip Keplinger of Mountain Home also admitted that methamphetamine found as he was being booked into the Baxter County Detention Center belonged to him.
The 27-year-old Keplinger was stopped in late May for driving on a license suspended for DUI/DRUGS.
He was sentenced to four-years-probation.
Circuit Judge John Putman questioned both Camp and Keplinger on whether they had been informed of the situation at ASCL and if they remained willing to proceed with their guilty pleas.
Both said they did.
Two defendants — 49-year-old Jeffery Elliott of Mountain Home and Johnathan Foshee of Norfork — both told Judge Putman they did not want to proceed with guilty pleas until they had a chance to discuss the situation with their lawyers. The two cases will be rescheduled.
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