News/Events

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge and Tri-State Pawn of Texarkana Inc. have reached a settlement to resolve allegations that consumers were charged excessive interest rates on title loans, a violation of Arkansas law.

“Predatory lending practices consistently rank among the top 10 complaints made by Arkansans to the Attorney General’s office,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “More often than not, these unfair loans only push consumers further into debt. This pawn shop is being held accountable, and I will continue to investigate and go after those who exploit Arkansans.”

The consent judgment, which was filed in Pulaski County Circuit Court, prohibits Tri-State Pawn from charging or collecting from consumers on auto pawns or title loans and all outstanding auto pawns or title loans entered into by the pawn shop with Arkansans are voided. $8,697 will be paid to the Attorney General’s office to be distributed to those consumers affected by the pawn shop’s unlawful actions. Tri-State will also pay $108,000 to the Attorney General’s office to be deposited into the Consumer Education and Enforcement Fund.

The complaint filed in 2013 stated that Tri-State Pawn in one instance seized the vehicle of a borrower prior to the due date of the borrower’s payment, in addition to charging unlawful interest, equivalent to a 240 percent annual rate.

An auto-title loan, known as a title pawn, is a short-term, high-interest loan in which the borrower provides the lender with the title and a key to his or her vehicle as collateral for the loan, but the borrower retains possession of the vehicle.

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge has joined other attorneys general in a comment letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) asking that the current safeguards and filters used to protect consumers from spam and phishing text messages be maintained.

“As I continue to work with my colleagues to reduce annoying telemarketing calls to Arkansans, I want to make sure that wireless carriers do not lose their ability to protect consumers’ messaging,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “Taking this ability away would make consumers increasingly vulnerable to dangerous spam and phishing schemes.”

“Text messaging spam would be a major annoyance to consumers and would be a vehicle for various fraudulent activities,” the attorneys general wrote. “We believe, and our citizens desire, that this unique wireless service should be kept ‘spam free.’”

In addition to Rutledge, the letter, which was led by Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden, was signed by attorneys general from Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming.

JONESBORO – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge said today that a Craighead County woman has been sentenced to 90 days in the Arkansas Department of Correction and assessed a $1,000 fine on one count of adult abuse, a Class D felony.

“Those living in long-term care facilities, such as the Jonesboro Human Development Center, are entitled to the highest quality care,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “As Attorney General, I am committed to seeking justice for anyone who does not receive the proper treatment he or she deserves and making sure those who abuse patients are held accountable for their actions. I appreciate Prosecutor Ellington for working with the Attorney General’s office to go after these criminals.”

On Dec. 11, a Craighead County jury found Sherri Currie guilty. Currie, a former employee of the Jonesboro Human Development Center, beat an intellectually disabled resident multiple times with a clothes hanger. The case was investigated by investigators employed by the Jonesboro Human Development Center and the Attorney General’s office. The case was prosecuted jointly by attorneys from the 2nd Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney’s office and the Attorney General’s office.

“I appreciate the hard work of Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, her office and Craighead County Deputy Prosecutor Grant Deprow for all the hard work and numerous hours they put into the investigation and prosecution of this case,” said Prosecuting Attorney Scott Ellington. “I truly believe protecting those who cannot care for themselves is one of the most important jobs we do.”

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, Medical Examiner Dr. Charles Kokes and Arkansas Crime Information Center Director Jay Winters today announced that the remains found in the Arkansas River last week were identified as belonging to Shequenia Burnett. The identification was made based on DNA samples given from family members at the Attorney General’s event to raise awareness for and help loved ones locate missing persons, Never Forgotten: Arkansas Takes Action.

Burnett’s family had provided DNA samples to the State Crime Lab at the 2014 and 2015 missing persons event.

“First and foremost, my heart goes out to Shequenia’s family,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “The grief they continue to feel is unimaginable. I remain hopeful that through the work of local law enforcement there will be justice for Shequenia and closure for her family. This closure would not be possible without the work of local law enforcement, and I commend their tireless efforts on these very difficult and emotional cases. I also hope that this discovery using DNA collected at the Never Forgotten event will encourage others with missing loved ones to attend next year’s event to provide samples and receive support from other families.”

“Thanks to the efforts of multiple Arkansas State Crime Lab employees, the remains of Shequenia Burnett were identified within days of their recovery,” said Dr. Kokes. “Without comparison of the DNA samples obtained at the Never Forgotten events, this would not have been possible.”

“We are appreciative of the Attorney General’s office for partnering with us and taking the lead on this so that we can collect these samples and help get these families closure,” said Winters.

Burnett of North Little Rock was reported missing on Jan. 15, 2014, after her mother, Sharon Jiles, had not heard from her daughter since Jan. 9.

The human leg belonging to Burnett was found on Saturday, Dec. 5 near the Big Dam Bridge in the Arkansas River. The Little Rock Police Department and the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office both responded after someone called police to report seeing the leg.

Rutledge hosted the fourth annual Never Forgotten event last June in partnership with the Crime Lab, state Medical Examiner and other agencies. Families of missing persons in Arkansas were invited to attend to provide DNA samples and information that could assist law enforcement in locating missing persons. Families provided DNA samples to be included in the national database, as well as police reports, photographs and dental records.

This is the second time that DNA collected at the annual Never Forgotten event has resulted in helping to identify a missing person’s remains. In Feb. 2013, authorities in Memphis determined that remains discovered in that city in 2011 were those of Tommy Lee Newingham of Earle, who had been missing for 12 years. Newingham’s death is being investigated as a homicide.

Information about the 2016 Never Forgotten event will be announced at a later date.

The North Little Rock Police Department is conducting the investigation into Burnett’s death. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the department at 501-758-1234.