As of Aug. 1, there were 322 people listed as Clark County inmates by the state Department of Corrections website. There are four more inmates in the state prison system compared to July numbers.

The inmates are distributed among several institutions across the state. The total includes 303 men and 19 women. There are 160 black inmates, 157 white inmates, and five of other races.

The following Clark County inmates have a parole- or transfer-eligible date this month, although there are several factors that could affect any individual release for months or years:

Mark Balentine, 48, is serving a 3-year sentence at the Ester Unit for a 2022 charge of drug possession. Court records note that police conducted a search of Balentine’s residence — as he was on active supervision and a registered sex offender — and found methamphetamine during the search. Balentine at the time was on probation for a conviction from a 2021 felony theft case in which he stole a vehicle from an Amity resident. Balentine becomes eligible for parole or transfer on Aug. 6.

Tracy W. Blankenship, 50, is serving a 10-year sentence at the Grimes Unit in Newport for possession of a firearm by a certain person. Blankenship was the sole suspect in a 2022 complaint of criminal trespass in Amity, where he entered the home of a known female, took a firearm from a safe and threatened her with it. Blankenship becomes eligible for parole or transfer on Aug. 17.

Justin L. Johnson, 33, is serving a 12-year sentence at the East Arkansas Unit in Brickeys for a 2020 conviction of second-degree battery. Court documents note that Johnson struck a 2-year-old in the face and stomach “multiple” times on one occasion that August. Johnson was subsequently charged for failure to register as a sex offender as he had been living at a residence other than the place where he was registered to reside. He had been incarcerated previously, in 2017 as well as in 2014, for failure to register or living near a school/daycare center. His status as a sex offender stems from a 2009 case of sexual assault. He becomes eligible for parole or transfer on Aug. 26.

Matthew Marion, 31, is serving a 12-year sentence at the Varner Unit in Gould for numerous 2019 charges in Pulaski County of aggravated assault (five counts) and fleeing. Marion has previously served time in prison for theft and burglary charges in Clark County, dating to 2011. He becomes eligible for parole or transfer on Aug. 21.

Carl Quarles, 40, is serving a 2-year sentence at the Ester Unit for a 2021 conviction of felony criminal mischief for smashing windows out of two vehicles and a home. Quarles becomes eligible for parole or transfer on Aug. 5.

Gregory Viele, 61, is serving a 3-year sentence at the Pine Bluff Unit for a 2021 conviction of failing to register as a sex offender. He had previously been convicted in 2019 for failing to update his registration from Ouachita County. His status as a sex offender stems from a 2003 conviction in Washington County for sexual indecency with a minor. He becomes eligible for parole or transfer on Aug. 21.