News/Events

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge today announced the convictions of a Booneville man and a Warren man for separate physical abuse charges.

“Arkansans should never be worried about the care their loved ones are receiving in our State’s residential care facilities and Arkansas’s most vulnerable should always be granted the highest quality care,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “Any form of abuse against Arkansans residing in a Medicaid funded facility will not be tolerated by my office.”

Quincy Trotter, 21, of Warren, pleaded guilty to battery in the third degree. Trotter was employed as a Resident Care Technician Assistant at the Southeast Arkansas Human Development Center. On December 3, 2019, Trotter struck a client with his closed fist causing physical injury. Pursuant to a negotiated plea, the defendant was sentenced to complete one year of supervised probation, pay a $1,000 fine plus court costs and complete a course in anger management. The case was prosecuted in coordination with the Tenth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Thomas Deen.

Carlos Nino, 22, of Booneville, pleaded guilty to battery in the second degree. In July, 2019, Nino was employed at the Booneville Human Development Center in Booneville, Arkansas, as a Resident Care Assistant. While on duty, Nino twisted a resident’s arm causing it to break. He was sentenced to probation for 36 months and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine plus court fees. This case was prosecuted in coordination with the Fifteenth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Tom Tatum.

Says, ‘to provide my expertise and recommendations on how we can better support our law enforcement officers by creating stronger community partnerships’

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge today testified before President Donald J. Trump’s National Law Enforcement Commission’s hearing on the rule of law and respect for law enforcement. In October 2019, President Trump signed Executive Order No. 13896 authorizing U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr to establish the Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice. The Commission, appointed by Barr in January, will work directly with national experts to collect and study data to submit recommendations to the President that will focus on strengthening our American law enforcement officials and their ability to serve and protect our communities.

“As the chief law enforcement officer of Arkansas, I was honored to testify before President Trump’s Commission and provide recommendations on how we can better support our law enforcement officers by creating stronger community partnerships, increasing accessibility and funding for law enforcement training and by providing more resources for crisis intervention,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “This heated national debate is an opportunity for us to find common ground to resolve long-standing and divisive issues, while finding ways to improve the relationship between our law enforcement officers and the communities they serve.”

General Rutledge has long been a leading advocate for law enforcement and a vocal opponent to the “defund the police” movement. She provides supplemental funding and free training to law enforcement throughout the state and annually recognizes the achievements of officers from all 75 counties. Rutledge also utilizes her roundtables as a forum to pro-actively obtain feedback from local police officers and community leaders.

Says, ‘Bailey abused the criminal court system to take advantage of vulnerable Arkansans’

Says, ‘exclusive internship program that allows students to gain first-hand and unique experiences in public service’

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge this week welcomed ten students from across the State to the Attorney General’s Office Annual Summer Internship program. Despite a brief delay in start dates due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Office has provided a variety of experience to students and future leaders in a safe environment.

“I am excited to offer this exclusive internship program that allows students to gain first-hand and unique experiences in public service,” said Attorney General Rutledge, “Each intern will work with the professionals in various areas of the Office where they learn the value of helping Arkansans.”

Rutledge is proud to welcome the following students into the Office:

Gifty Agana is a senior at Hendrix College where she is a Political Science major. She is from Fayetteville and a graduate of Fayetteville High School. Agana is working in the Public Affairs Department.

Deshawn Beard is a sophomore at Philander Smith College where she is a Philosophy major. She is from New Orleans and a graduate of Slidell High School. Beard is working in the Public Affairs Department.

Madison Beck graduated from the University of Arkansas Walton College of Business in May with a Bachelor of Science degree. She was a business administration major with an emphasis in marketing. Beck, of Center Ridge, is a graduate of St. Joseph High School and worked in the Northwest Arkansas Office. She will pursue her juris doctorate degree from University of Arkansas School of Law beginning this fall.

Jake James is a junior at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville where he is a Financial Management/Investment and Pre-Law major. He is a Little Rock native, and graduated from the Little Rock Catholic High School for Boys. James is working in the Public Affairs Department.

Kyle Lants is a senior at the University of South Carolina where he is Criminal Justice and Criminology major. He is a Little Rock native and graduated from Pulaski Academy. Lants is working in the Public Affairs Department.

David Lee is a senior at the University of Central Arkansas where he is a History major with a minor in Communications and Political Science. He is from Maumelle and graduated from Maumelle High School. Lee is working in the Communications Department.

Drew Martin is a graduate student at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock where he is currently seeking a master’s degree in public administration. He is from Bryant and graduated from Bryant High School and received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Martin is working in the Public Affairs Department.

Mallory McClure is a junior at the University of Central Arkansas where she is a Political Science and Communication major. She is from Batesville and a graduate of Batesville High School. McClure is working in the Communications Department.

Kaitlyn McFarland is a junior at the University of Alabama where she is a Political Science major. She is from Hot Springs and a graduate of Lakeside High School. McFarland is working in the Administration Department.

Allyson Oliver is a junior at Ouachita Baptist University where she is a Psychology and Political Science major. She is from Conway, and a graduate of Conway High School. Oliver is working in the Public Affairs Department

Katie Strickland is a junior at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville where she is an International and Global Studies and Political Science major. She is from Little Rock and a graduate of Mount St. Mary Academy. Strickland is working in the Public Affairs Department.

Maddison Thomas is a senior at Hendrix College where she is a Sociology major. She is from North Little Rock and graduated from North Little Rock High School. Thomas is working in the Public Affairs Department.