Felony Friday: Felon goes on stealing spree after self-inflicted gunshot

This is a roundup of felony charges filed May 1-15, 2026, by the Clark County Prosecutor’s Office. Some defendants may also have misdemeanor charges against them, but most are not included here. The following names and charges, which are contained within public documents, are gathered from online court records available through ARCourts. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Here’s a rundown of felony cases filed in the past two weeks:

Felon goes on stealing spree after self-inflicted gunshot

An Amity area man with a sketchy past couldn’t catch a break after shooting himself in the leg.

Clark County deputies were called April 18 to an accidental shooting at 112 Wells Road, the residence of Chase Lee Charles Bishop. Deputies arrived to find Bishop, 29, with a gunshot wound to his right leg. Bishop said he was cleaning a firearm, a Bersa Model 83, and that he set the gun down upon discovering a jammed shell. At some point the gun discharged, striking Bishop in the leg.

Running his information through the state criminal database, police discovered that Bishop had a 2018 felony conviction in California for carrying a concealed dirk or dagger.

At some point Bishop received medical attention, and police filed for an arrest warrant that was issued on April 20.

Within days, the wounded Bishop would have another run-in with law enforcement. A separate filing notes that Arkadelphia police investigated an April 23 report of shoplifting at Walmart, where a pair of suspects exited the store with more than $1,600 worth of stolen merchandise. Police reviewed surveillance footage that provided a description of the suspects — one of whom had a bandaged leg and used a crutch — as well as the vehicle they left in. 

The next day, an officer located the vehicle in the parking lot of Atwoods, and the wounded suspect was seen near the truck. A check of his information revealed that he was wanted by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office for the warrant issued on April 20.

A search of the vehicle yielded methamphetamine paraphernalia and prescription medication bearing someone else’s name. In the bed of the pickup police observed a brand new chain saw and cooler, as well as multiple full cans of gasoline. APD soon learned that Bishop was suspected of stealing fuel from a Gurdon gas station earlier that day.

During an interview with police, Bishop admitted to stealing the fuel from Gurdon, as well as the chainsaw and cooler, which he said he’d stolen from Walmart in Hope.

Bishop is charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Certain Person, and Theft of Property, each a Class D felony. Given his status as a habitual offender, prosecutors are seeking a sentence enhancement that could land him up to 12 years in prison for each offense.

Bond was set at $30,000 during a first court appearance held April 27.

Bond set for alleged traffickers

Two Arkadelphia residents arrested in March over allegations of human trafficking have made appearances in court as prosecutors formalize the charges against them.

Janhina Smith and Justice Benton were in Clark County Circuit Court on March 30. Smith’s bond was set at $75,000, and Benton’s bond was set at $40,000. Both remained in custody as of Friday, May 15.

Smith’s formal charges include Engaging Children in Sexually Explicit Conduct for Use, a Class Y felony that carries a prison sentence of 10-40 years or life; 1st-degree Computer Exploitation of a Child, also a Class Y felony; Electronic Facilitation of Child Sexual Abuse, a Class B felony that carries a prison sentence of 5-20 years and/or a fine of up to $15,000; and two counts of misdemeanor Endangering the Welfare of a Minor.

Formal charges against Benton are Electronic Facilitation of Child Sexual Abuse; and two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Minor.

Gym burglar sentenced to probation

Arkadelphia police were called April 6 to A-Town Fitness in Pine Plaza, 2750 Pine St., for a report of a trespasser and thief.

Management of the gym showed police surveillance footage of a suspect, whom they identified as Joseph Nicholas Perser, as he gained entry into the 24/7 facility using a key card that was not issued to him. Footage showed Perser as he moved about inside the establishment before exiting with clothing and shoes, as well as multiple protein bars that are sold at the business.

Perser, 32, was arrested April 22.

He has since entered a negotiated plea of guilty to charges of Commercial Burglary, a Class C felony that carries a potential prison sentence of 3-10 years and/or fines of up to $10,000. Under the plea deal, Perser was sentenced to 60 months of supervised probation, and was ordered to pay $1,780 in fines and $40 restitution to the gym.

Probation search nets discovery of medley of drugs

Drug agents and probation/parole officers paid a home visit April 22 to search the Walnut Street home of Lindsey Nicole Trejo, 31, of Arkadelphia.

The search yielded a medley of substances, including 16.8 grams of methamphetamine, 3.7 grams of cocaine, multiple tablets of Adderall, psilocybin mushrooms, synthetic K2 marijuana and marijuana.

Following Trejo’s arrest, a first court appearance was held April 24. Bond was set at $50,000.

Trejo is charged with Possession of a Schedule I/II Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine), a Class B felony punishable by 5-20 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $15,000; Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance (Cocaine), a Class C felony that carries a prison sentence of 3-10 years and/or a fine of up to $10,000; and two counts of Class D Possession of a Controlled Substance (mushrooms and Adderall), each of which carry a potential prison sentence of up to 6 years and/or a fine of up to $10,000.

Sexual assault charge for Arkadelphia man

An Arkadelphia man with prior felony convictions now stands accused of sexually assaulting a minor.

Wesley J. Wright, 39, is charged with 2nd-degree Sexual Assault in connection with an alleged incident that happened in late 2025.

On Dec. 31 the juvenile phoned in a report that Wright, a relative of hers, had touched her inappropriately on the buttocks, put her hand on his genitals and propositioned her. The allegations were made official during a Crimes Against Children interview that was conducted March 19 in Texarkana.

Wright was arrested March 27.

Bond was set at $50,000 during his first court appearance on March 30. 

If convicted, Wright could face 5-40 years in prison for the Class B felony. Prosecutors are seeking a sentence enhancement given Wright’s status as a habitual offender. Wright had prior felony charges in 2018 and 2022. Though not sexual in nature, the charges stemmed from violence.

Wright has pleaded not guilty to the sexual assault charge.

Editor’s note: Charges have been filed against and an arrest warrant has been issued for a man accused of raping a child. The Arkadelphian will publish more details, including the name of the accused, once an arrest is made.