Rape Suspect’s Bond Reduced to Zero; Re-Arrested After Failing to Appear

JONESBORO, Ark. — A suspect who was held on a $1 million bond for an alleged rape had the bond reduced to zero, didn’t show up for court, and was re-arrested again this week in Craighead County.

Mason John-Anthony Willis, 23, of Brookland, was arrested in 2023 for an alleged rape involving a child. In that case, Judge David Boling set bail at $1 million with an ankle monitor required.

Since then, his bail was reduced to an OR (own recognizance) bond. Online court records do not show which judge modified the bond. However, records show a warrant was issued for his arrest on March 21, 2025, after he did not appear as scheduled in court.

Willis was arrested on March 25 for Failure to Appear, a Class C Felony. Willis appeared before Judge Tommy Fowler for a new bond hearing today. Judge Fowler was shocked that Willis’ bond had been reduced significantly, making several comments in court that he did not know how that had happened.

“How this got reduced to an OR bond, I don’t know,” Judge Fowler said in open court.

Judge Fowler set a $25,000 cash-only bond for Willis. An ankle monitor requirement was also put into place. Willis is next scheduled to appear in court on April 24.

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2023 Arrest

On April 3, 2023, officers from the Jonesboro Police Department took a report from a mother stating that her child reported having sexual intercourse with then-21-year-old Mason Willis. At the time of the encounter, the child was 11 years of age.

The investigation showed that Willis was paroled out of prison and moved into the residence, beginning a relationship with the mother. Only after Willis moved out did the child come forward with the allegations.

The child provided details to authorities about multiple encounters.

Willis was interviewed by police and began to cry, the affidavit said, mentioning to the investigator ‘what they do to people like that in prison.’ Willis only admitted to kissing the alleged victim. Anytime the conversation reached the topic of the alleged sexual encounter, Willis would go back to talking about what happens to people like that in prison.

Detective Bill Brown arrested Willis for Rape, a Class Y Felony, for having sex with a person under the age of 14. Willis hung his head and started crying when arrested, the affidavit said.

A Class Y Felony is punishable by 10 to 40 years or life in prison in Arkansas. Willis still faces the original charge in addition to the FTA charge.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Rape Suspect’s Bond Dropped Because State Didn’t File Charges in Time