Jimmy L. Bohannan, Jr.

     An Escape charge has now been filed against 49 year old Baxter County Jail Inmate JIMMY LEON BOHANNAN, JR. who walked away from an inmate work crew that was working at the Food Basket in Mountain Home last Friday afternoon, April 7th at approximately 1:15 PM.

     BOHANNAN left the building to take the trash outside.  After he did not return, the deputy with the work crew notified the Sheriff’s Office that BOHANNAN could not be located.  A short time later, BOHANNAN’s striped jail uniform was found inside the building.  An investigation was initiated, and a manhunt was organized.  Officers with the Sheriff’s Office, Mountain Home Police Department, and Arkansas State Police converged on the area to search for BOHANNAN. 

     At approximately 2:11 PM, a man who resided nearby the Food Basket told officers patrolling the area that he had earlier been approached by a man asking to be given a ride.  The suspect information he provided matched the description of BOHANNAN.  The man told officers he gave the other man (BOHANNAN) a ride to a residence on Kingswood Drive off State Highway 201 North and dropped him off at a house there.

     The search steered toward the Kingswood area as additional details became available.  Sheriff’s Investigators made their way to the residence and were eventually able to make contact with the owner.  After a period of time, the woman residing at the house admitted to investigators that BOHANNAN, who she knew, had been dropped off there. BOHANNAN was in underwear and sock feet.  She provided him with other clothing, and he left on foot.  Investigators do not believe this contact was pre-planned or pre-arranged.

     Officers from multiple agencies combed the area, and the Sheriff’s Office helicopter as well as the canine tracking team with the Arkansas Department of Corrections – North Central Unit were utilized in the search.

     At approximately 10:00 PM, an Arkansas State Police Trooper in the area was approached by a woman reporting that she had seen a man she did not know sitting on the tailgate of a truck behind her residence.  State Trooper Stinnett responded, located BOHANNAN, and was able to take him back into custody and return him to the Detention Center.

     JIMMY LEON BOHANNAN, JR. is now charged additionally with Escape in the Second Degree – Class B Felony.  He now has an additional bond of $75,000 on this charge and scheduled to appear in Circuit Court today, April 13th.  He was being held in custody awaiting trial in Circuit Court on other prior charges.

     The woman who provided the clothing change and assistance to BOHANNAN may also face charges once the investigation is completed.

/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff