In a continuing effort to stop underage drinking, the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office and the Alcohol Beverage Control of Arkansas conducted a joint operation on April 5, 2012.  The operation was designed ensure that local establishments that sell alcohol were properly checking IDs and not selling to minors.

     An Enforcement Officer with ABC and Deputy Corporal Eddie Elliott used a 19-year old female to conduct controlled undercover attempts to purchase alcohol.  Between the hours of 5 PM and 9 PM, the underage female went to twelve (12) businesses in Baxter County.  Of the twelve businesses that were attempted, eight (8) did not sell to the minor while four (4) did complete a sale. It should be noted that the employees at all twelve (12) businesses asked for an ID from the minor however four (4) sold to the minor after looking at the ID. The employees were charged with Unknowingly Furnishing Alcohol to a Minor, a Class A Misdemeanor. They were issued a citation to appear in Baxter County District Court on May 3, 2012 at 9 am.

The Four (4) businesses and employees who sold are:

Snappy Mart, Lakeview -  Jennifer Marie Haught age 42
Walgreen's, Mountain Home – Britt Dwain Ashcraft age 32
Warehouse Liquor, Mountain Home – James David Dickey age 28
Jack’s Package, Mountain Home – Robert George Jezarian age 62

The eight (8) businesses that refused to sell to the minor were:

Novak Liquor-Midway
Triangle Citgo-Midway
J & L Convenience Store-Mountain Home
EZ Mart, Hwy 201 N, Mountain Home
AM&N Convenience, Clarkridge
Tobacco Outlet #1, Mountain Home
Tobacco Outlet #2, Mountain Home
College & 9^th Citgo, Mountain Home

     The Baxter County Sheriff’s Office will continue to its efforts to curb underage drinking and to keep our youth safe.

Sheriff John Montgomery