Talmadge Beigh Pendergrass

     The Baxter County Sheriff’s Office and Arkansas State Police this morning arrested 28 year old TALMADGE BEIGH PENDERGRASS of Gassville on a warrant of arrest issued by the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas on a felony charge of Making a False Statement in Acquisition of a Firearm, Violation of Title 18 U.S.C. 922(a)(6) and 924(a)(2).

     The Grand Jury for the United States District Court handed down a True Bill Indictment on TALMADGE PENDERGRASS that was filed by the Clerk of Court on January 11, 2017, charging him with this crime.

     The indictment was sought by the United States Attorney’s Office following an investigation into PENDERGRASS having made a straw purchase of a handgun at the Harps grocery store in Mountain Home on or about November 6, 2015.  The handgun he purchased was a Canik model TP9, 9mm pistol.  This handgun was ultimately used by NICHOLAS IAN ROOS in the murder of 75 year old DONALD RICE and 71 year old LADONNA J. RICE, his wife, on the next day November 7, 2015, at their home at 477 CR 508 near Midway. NICHOLAS IAN ROOS plead guilty and was convicted of Capital Murder and other charges in Baxter County Circuit Court on May 24, 2016. ROOS is currently incarcerated in the Arkansas Department of Corrections.  Two co-defendants, ZACH TYLER GRAYHAM and MIKAYLA JORDAN MYNK, had also taken plea offers in Circuit Court in connection with their involvement in the crimes.  Both of them are also now incarcerated in the Arkansas Department of Corrections.

     The federal charge against TALMADGE PENDERGRASS came about as a result of evidence developed during the investigation of the murders.  Investigators learned that NICHOLAS ROOS had gone to Harps accompanied by TALMADGE PENDERGRASS on November 6, 2015. ROOS made application to purchase the handgun, but his application was denied by the background check ,and he was not allowed to purchase the firearm.   Video evidence from the store then indicated that ROOS took cash money out of a Crown Royal bag and handed it over to PENDERGRASS, who then made application to purchase the firearm, was approved, and he took possession of the firearm. PENDERGRASS stated on the application form that he was the actual buyer of the firearm when in truth and fact he was acquiring the firearm on behalf of another person, which is in violation of the law.

     The information and evidence from the firearm transaction was given by Investigators to federal authorities, who in turn sought the indictment of TALMADGE PENDERGRASS.  A copy of the arrest warrant was delivered to the Sheriff’s Office, and the arrest of PENDERGRASS was effectuated this morning.  The Sheriff’s Office will be delivering PENDERGRASS into the custody of the United States Marshals Service in Fayetteville.

/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff