The Sheriff’s Office has arrested 30 year old BILLY JOE SANFORD of rural Mountain Home on several charges after deputies responded yesterday to a domestic disturbance at 127 Sandstone Circle.

     Sheriff’s Corporal Edward Elliott was dispatched to that address at approximately 4:47 PM Sunday.  Upon arrival at the residence, Corporal Elliott was met outside by a woman and two children in the driveway.  The woman alleged that her boyfriend, later identified as BILLY JOE SANFORD, had pushed and shoved her, as well as assaulted and choked her ten year old daughter causing injuries to the child.  SANFORD was said to be inside the residence.

     Corporal Elliott, with assistance from an officer with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, made contact with SANFORD, and he came outside to them.  Although SANFORD denied the allegations of injuring the child, there was sufficient evidence present to take him into custody.  Authorities also determined that SANFORD is on active parole with the Arkansas Department of Community Corrections, and that he was in possession of a firearm inside the residence.  Authorities located and seized a .20 gauge Mossberg shotgun inside the residence.

     BILLY JOE SANFORD was taken to the Detention Center and incarcerated on charges of:

    Domestic Battery in the Second Degree – Felony
    Possession of Firearm by Certain Persons (convicted felon) – Felony
    Domestic Battery in the Third Degree – Misdemeanor
    Endangering the Welfare of a Minor - Misdemeanor 

     SANFORD is being held in lieu of $25,000 bond, and he is scheduled to make an appearance in Circuit Court on July 26^th.

/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff