Court Case Deems Motel Rooms May be Searched

LITTLE ROCK, AR – A recent court case, Kimberly Ann Webb v. Arkansas, in the Court of Appeals of Arkansas, examined the authority of police and bondsmen to search a motel room. Webb was facing two drug offenses when she tried to have evidence against her suppressed, alleging that her motel room was searched illegally. Webb’s boyfriend had failed to appear at a court date and two bondsmen tracked the couple to an Oklahoma motel. Police were called to the scene and learned that a room at the motel had been registered to Webb for 39 days. Since... Read more

AR County Requiring Sheriff’s Bonds for Felony Cases

Saline County, Arkansas is in the middle of a federal lawsuit with local bail bondsmen after Saline County judges signed a court order earlier this year outlawing payment plans on bail premiums. In addition, felony case bonds are often recommended for a sheriff’s bond, where 10% of the bail amount is paid to the sheriff’s office. The county argues that sheriff’s bonds are better for everyone involved because the defendant gets a percentage of the 10% back at the end of the trial. The Arkansas constitution requires bail bondsmen... Read more