Gurdon man who shot woman with assault rifle to serve jail time, probation

A Gurdon man who in March randomly fired multiple rounds into a vehicle as it drove past, shooting its driver in the back, will serve jail time and probation.

In a negotiated plea deal reached Tuesday, Sept. 10, in Clark County Circuit Court, Kenneth Harper Jr. pleaded guilty to first-degree battery and aggravated assault.

For the charge of battery, the 36-year-old Harper was sentenced to 60 days in the Clark County Detention Center and 84 months of probation. Special conditions include a 120-day home detention program, completion of a drug and alcohol rehab treatment, forfeiting the weapon, paying more than $1,900 in fines and court costs, and a mental health evaluation.

Additionally, Harper was ordered to pay $8,998 in restitution to the victim, Yolanda Holman. Following the plea agreement, 9E Prosecuting Attorney Dan Turner filed a request asking for a court order to pay Holman $4,032 from the Local Victim Restitution Fund.

For the aggravated assault charge, Harper was sentenced to 72 months of supervised probation.

Harper was represented by Little Rock attorney Bill James.

Court records indicate that Harper, since his release from jail custody in May, resided at a behavioral health hospital in Texarkana as well as in a drug rehabilitation residence in Little Rock.

Harper was facing a much harsher sentence. First-degree Battery is a Class B felony punishable by 5-20 years in prison, and Aggravated Assault is a Class D felony punishable by up to 6 years in prison.