Arkansas Department of Agriculture investigation leads to convictions | Regional News

A Hot Spring County man has been found guilty of two counts of first-degree criminal damage following an investigation by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Law Enforcement Division.

The convictions occurred in Hot Spring and Howard counties.

On June 28, 2024, James Barrett Hall pleaded guilty in Howard County District Court to one count of first-degree criminal damage to property. This follows a previous conviction in November 2023, when Hall pleaded guilty in Hot Spring County District Court to one count of first-degree criminal damage to property. In 2022, Hall entered into an agreement to care for livestock imported from Texas.

On January 7, 2024, special agents with the department received a report of livestock loss due to starvation and lack of care. Following the department’s investigation, Hall was sentenced to 20 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections in the Hot Spring County case. In the Howard County case, he received 20 years of probation to be served consecutively with the Hot Spring County sentence. Hall was also ordered to pay restitution totaling $126,000.

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