News/Events

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge today announced the arrest of a Pulaski County woman and a Garland County woman.

Jene Wyatt, 38, of Little Rock, was arrested and released from the Pulaski County Detention Facility. Wyatt is charged with one count of Medicaid fraud, a Class C felony. She is accused of billing for services not rendered, totaling $1,438.56 in November and December 2016.

Lois Fields, 41, of Malvern, was arrested and released from the Pulaski County Detention Facility. Fields is charged with Medicaid fraud, a Class B felony. She is accused of billing $5,833.56 for services not rendered as an adult companion between October 2015 and February 2016.

Both cases were referred to the Attorney General’s office by the Office of the Medicaid Inspector General.

Benton Chief Kirk Lane receives Morgan’s Choice Award and Criminal Justice Institute receives Star of Excellence Award

BENTON – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge today hosted the sixth annual Never Forgotten – Arkansas Takes Action event at the Benton Event Center. The daylong event helps raise awareness of issues surrounding missing persons and recognizes Arkansas’s missing children and adults.

“Time will never heal the hurt and uncertainty these families feel every hour of every day,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “But it is my mission each year that these families walk away from the Never Forgotten event with a sense of support that their state and members of law enforcement have not and will not ever forget their loved one.”

Wayne Ruthven, a consultant with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), provided law enforcement officers with an update on a program being created to coordinate efforts to assist children who become separated from their families as a result of a disaster. The Attorney General’s office and several other Arkansas agencies meet monthly to develop an action plan, coordinated by the Arkansas Department of Human Services, as part of a pilot program.

“Under the leadership of the Arkansas Mass Care Coordinator, Edwin Lyons, and the Department of Human Services, NCMEC is supporting a great group of stakeholder representatives from a number of state, federal and local agencies working diligently to develop a children's disaster reunification plan for Arkansas which can also be a model for states nationwide,” said Ruthven. “These partners represent governmental, volunteer, private and other non-governmental organizations. Quickly reunifying children with their parents or guardians may reduce the overall trauma to a child associated with a disaster and its aftermath. Also, children who become separated from parents or guardians amidst the chaos of a disaster may be susceptible to kidnapping, abuse, and, in the most extreme cases, trafficking and exploitation. NCMEC is honored and privileged to be a part of this challenging and important program in Arkansas.”

Officers also heard from Gay Smither, president of the Laura Recovery Center. Smither’s 12-year-old daughter, Laura, went missing during a jog in Friendswood, Texas, on April 3, 1997. Her body was located 17 days later. Laura’s death led to the creation of the Laura Recovery Center, an organization that helps families and law enforcement agencies on missing child cases. The center has assisted with more than 1,700 cases and participated in more than 100 active searches. William Reece was indicted Sept. 1, 2016, in the deaths of Laura and 17-year-old Jessica Cain, who disappeared Aug. 17, 1997.

"Never give up hope. Never give up searching for missing children. Never give up seeking justice," said Smither.

The officer training session concluded with a presentation from Lori Mcllwain, co-founder of the National Autism Association. Mcllwain discussed autism, including a brief overview of Autism Spectrum Disorder, wandering and its unique dangers. Best practices for prevention and response to reduce risk were also discussed, along with findings and insights from six years of autism and wandering data.

“We’re grateful for the opportunity to bring attention to the critical issue of autism-related wandering/elopement,” said Mcllwain. “Each year in the U.S., hundreds of children and adults with autism go missing from their homes, schools and residential facilities. Yet, many of these individuals cannot speak, call out for help or answer to their name. With awareness and education, we can work to reduce these incidents, and the tragic consequences that often follow.”

At the same time as the law enforcement session, a panel discussion was held for the families of missing persons on available resources to assist them with locating their loved one. Participating agencies included Arkansas State Police, Arkansas State Crime Lab, Arkansas Crime Information Center, FBI, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the National Missing and Unidentified Missing Persons System.

A luncheon was hosted by Rutledge to honor the families of the missing and thank law enforcement for assisting in missing persons cases. The event also provided support and networking opportunities for families still searching and for those who have tragically lost loved ones.

During the luncheon, the Morgan’s Choice Award, named for Morgan Nick who went missing in 1995, was presented to Benton Police Chief Kirk Lane for his part in the Rock One Sock campaign and use of social media to show support for missing children and their families. The Star of Excellence Award was presented to the University of Arkansas Criminal Justice Institute for its work to form Child Abduction Response Teams (CART), which brings a multi-disciplinary approach to responding to a missing or abducted child incident, across the state. Team participants include representatives from the Arkansas State Police, local and county law enforcement, FBI, probation and parole, victim advocates, social service agencies, emergency management personnel, school personnel and other key agencies.

Says, ‘Wendy Beasley took advantage of the Medicaid system’

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge today announced the conviction of a Hot Spring County woman for Medicaid fraud. Wendy Beasley pleaded guilty in Pulaski County Circuit Court and was sentenced to three years probation. She will pay $1,080 in restitution to the Arkansas Medicaid Program and a $3,240 fine and court costs in the criminal case.

“Wendy Beasley took advantage of the Medicaid system,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “My staff of attorneys and investigators diligently work to investigate and prosecute people like Beasley, who is now required to pay the money back to the Arkansas Medicaid Program.”

Beasley, 46, of Malvern pleaded guilty to Medicaid fraud, a Class C felony, for billing the Arkansas Medicaid Program for services not rendered from March to May 2016. The fraudulent bills include those submitted for work she claimed was done while she was incarcerated on other charges.

The case was initiated by a referral from the Office of the Medicaid Inspector General and was prosecuted in coordination with the 6th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Larry Jegley.