News/Events

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced the arrest of a Lawrence County man for crimes involving children.

Terry Matheny, 58, of Ravenden was arrested by the Attorney General’s office Cyber Crimes Unit on 30 counts of distributing, possessing or viewing of matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child, a Class C felony. He is currently being held on bond at the Lawrence County Detention Facility.

Special agents in the Attorney General’s office seized multiple electronic devices from the home. An attorney from the Attorney General’s office will be appointed as special deputy prosecutor for this case.

More than 6,000 students in 57 schools have participated

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced that more than 6,000 students across Arkansas have participated in the first-in-the-nation Prescription for Life program.

“Students across the state are learning about the dangers of prescription drug abuse and misuse thanks to Prescription for Life,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “I am proud to fully fund this lifesaving program and thrilled that we have already reached more than 6,000 students. The program is opening a dialogue about the epidemic that is impacting people across our State, especially high school students. I look forward to more students and schools signing up for this important educational tool.”

The Attorney General’s office covers the cost of Prescription for Life, a first-of-its-kind digital platform offered to all high school students in Arkansas. Since the program’s launch in September, it has been introduced in 57 schools across 50 counties with an additional 24 schools committed to launching the program this fall.

Prescription for Life is just one step in Rutledge’s multi-faceted approach to ending the opioid crisis. Rutledge is also suing the opioid manufacturers who created the crisis in Arkansas for violations of the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and the Arkansas Medicaid Fraud False Claims Act. Each year, Rutledge partners with a number of agencies in hosting the Arkansas Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Summit, a free training and educational opportunity for law enforcement officers, medical professionals, pharmacists and educators. And in addition to the bi-annual Prescription Drug Take Back Day, scheduled for April 28 this year, Rutledge began partnering in 2016 with local law enforcement across the State to provide prescription drug take back boxes at every mobile office, held annually in all 75 counties. So far this year, more than 40 pounds of prescription drugs have been collected and disposed of safely – keeping them out of the hands of children and those with addictions.

State to receive nearly $20,000

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas will receive thousands of dollars from Emergency Medical Services Corporation, EmCare, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates as part of a settlement following an action brought by Attorney General Leslie Rutledge.

The settlement reached between the United States, sixteen states including Arkansas and the company resolves allegations that EmCare conspired with Health Management Associates (HMA) hospitals to submit claims to the Medicaid program for medically unnecessary inpatient procedures and allegations that EmCare received illegal payments from HMA in exchange for emergency room doctors recommending that Medicaid patients be unnecessarily admitted to facilities.

“The State of Arkansas will not tolerate irresponsible actions by companies that hurt Arkansans,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “Consumers should be able to trust that doctors and medical facilities put patients’ best interests first. Unnecessary procedures and hospital stays not only cause financial hardships for patients, but also take advantage of the Medicaid program – a very important safety net for many Arkansans.”

Arkansas will receive $19,891.98 from the $28.8 million settlement, which resolves allegations that EmCare violated federal and state False Claims Acts. EmCare is a corporation that contracts to provide qualified physicians and related medical professionals to staff emergency departments and provide inpatient hospitalist services to hospitals throughout the United States.

A team from the National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Unites participated in the settlement negotiations on behalf of the states and included attorneys general from Florida, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Virginia and Washington.

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge today announced that she has filed an amended notice of appeal with the Arkansas Supreme Court challenging Judge Wendell Griffen’s decisions on medical marijuana cultivation permits. Today’s notice of appeal asks the Court to not only review Judge Griffen’s rulings that declared the process of scoring and awarding the permits unlawful, but to also examine an order issued earlier this week saying his decision can’t be appealed.

“Today I filed an amended notice of appeal with the Arkansas Supreme Court on behalf of the State,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “This case will have serious and lasting consequences for Arkansans and I firmly believe that Judge Griffen’s decision must be reviewed, a belief clearly shared by the three companies who have already filed notices of appeal.”

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge today proclaimed April 8-14 as Crime Victims’ Rights Week in Arkansas. Rutledge spoke at the Arkansas Recognition and Victim Rights Ceremony at Heifer Village to victims and families, advocates, law enforcement and prosecutors.

“Far too many Arkansans are left with the very real and lasting ramifications of crime,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “Proclaiming this week as Crime Victims’ Rights Week in Arkansas is just one small way I can honor Arkansans who deal with these tragedies on a daily basis. Whether it’s the advocates who provide safety and comfort, supportive friends and families or the victims themselves, we must honor the courage and bravery of these individuals.”