Paragould Man Arrested for Alleged Stalking, Faces $100,000 Cash-Only Bond

PARAGOULD, Ark. – A Paragould man has been jailed on a $100,000 cash-only bond after allegedly making heinous and alarming statements against a Jonesboro business owner.

Paul Hutcheson, 36, of Paragould, was arrested on Thursday, Dec. 7, on a charge of stalking in the second degree, a Class C felony.

It began with a report on Dec. 5 by a victim, a business owner who had done business with Hutcheson as a customer. As detailed in the probable cause affidavit, Hutcheson leased two cell phones from them in September 2022. The business sends out automated bill reminders, which Hutcheson began responding to on November 24. According to the affidavit, Hutcheson responded directly to the alleged victim, targeting both him and his family.

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The messages would be alarming to the average reader, which is part of the definition of felony stalking. Hutcheson also made references to having a .308 rifle, which also factors into the classification of the stalking charge as a Class C felony.

1. (a)

   (1) A person commits stalking in the first degree if he or she knowingly engages in a course of conduct that would place a reasonable person in the victim’s position under emotional distress and in fear for his or her safety or a third person’s safety, and the actor:

   (A) Does so in contravention of an order of protection consistent with the Domestic Abuse Act of 1991, § 9-15-101 et seq., or a no contact order as set out in subdivision (a)(2)(A) of this section, protecting the same victim, or any other order issued by any court protecting the same victim;

   (B) Has been convicted within the previous ten (10) years of:

   (i) Stalking in the second degree;

   (ii) Terroristic threatening, § 5-13-301, or terroristic act, § 5-13-310; or

   (iii) Stalking or threats against another person’s safety under the statutory provisions of any other state jurisdiction; or

        (C) Is armed with a deadly weapon or represents by word or conduct that he or she is armed with a deadly weapon.

   Source: Justia

Hutcheson made several alarming comments revealed in the probable cause affidavit sent to media on Tuesday. Some of the deranged messages were graphic and violent.

Hutcheson continued with statements about “targeting” the victim and his family, engaging in warfare, and the messages escalated from there. Hutcheson is alleged to have begun sending photos of the victim and their family while also stating he knows where the victim lives, goes to church, etc. Further messages stated “see you soon, scumbag.” He followed with what police described as “lewd” comments about the victim’s young child.

The victim provided police with the phone number of the suspect, which authorities verified as his due to Hutcheson recently using it to make a police report. Police also verified the number with dispatch, whom he had called from that number recently.

Hutcheson was arrested and booked into Greene County Detention Center on Dec. 7. He went before Judge Dan Stidham on Monday, Dec. 11. The judge set a $100,000 cash-only bond on the suspect, meaning he will need to post the full amount to be released.

His next court date is January 18, 2024.