JONESBORO, Ark. — A bit of a mystery began in district court on Wednesday when the judge openly questioned how a rape suspect’s bond went from $1 million to zero (own recognizance) during probable cause hearings.
The suspect, Mason John-Anthony Willis, 23, of Brookland, failed to appear for his court date in a case where he is accused of sexual contact with an 11-year-old. A warrant was issued for his arrest, resulting in him being taken into custody this week. Judge Tommy Fowler questioned in court how such a drastic bond reduction could have taken place. After research, we’ve found the answer.
Prosecutors didn’t file the criminal information for over 60 days while the defendant was in custody. This violates Rule 8.6 of the Arkansas Rules of Criminal Procedure, which allows the defendant to make a motion for release from custody, “unless the prosecuting attorney establishes good cause for the delay.”
The order is signed and initialed by Circuit Judge Randy Philhours and by Chief Deputy Prosecutor Jessica Thomason. No names are printed next to the signatures. NEA Report reviewed other court orders to match the signatures, in addition to confirming with court sources.
It is not the only delay in the case the state was admonished for, either.
On October 9, 2023, and again on January 22, 2024, the defendant made a motion for continuance through his attorney, which was granted. Then, on April 15, 2024, Circuit Judge Scott Ellington, the presiding judge in the case, filed a letter from the court regarding the delay in a trial.
Read the letter: Administrative Order #5 Report
Arkansas Supreme Court Administrative Order #5 states that courts shall, in the absence of extraordinary circumstances, give precedence to criminal cases when the alleged victim is under age 14.
Arkansas Code Annotated § 16-10-130 (1987) provides that all courts of this state shall, in the absence of extraordinary circumstances, give precedence to the disposition of criminal cases over other matters, civil or criminal, when the alleged victim is under age fourteen. Effective immediately, when a case affected by § 16-10-130 is not tried or otherwise disposed of within nine months following the filing of a criminal information in the circuit court, the circuit judge, before whom the case is pending, will inform the Administrative Office of the Courts in writing the reason or reasons therefor. Thereafter, at intervals of ninety (90) days the trial court will inform the Administrative Office of the Courts of the status of the case. During the pendency of the case, no continuance shall be granted on motion of either the State or the defendant except upon written order detailing the reasons for, and the duration of, the delay.
After Judge Ellington’s letter, the defendant’s attorney made four more motions for continuance, all of which were granted. None of the court orders filed in the case contain a reason for the delays.
The final motion for continuance was made on January 22, 2025. This time, Judge Ellington mandated that the defendant appear with a “hired attorney” on March 20.
The next filing in the case was March 21, in the form of an arrest warrant for Willis’ failure to appear.
NEA Report reached out to Chief Deputy Prosecutor Jessica Thomason for more. She had no comment. Prosecuting Attorney Sonia F. Hagood was unable to be reached.
Willis faces the Class Y Felony charge of Rape, punishable by 10 to 40 years or life in prison. After his most recent arrest, he also faces a Class C Felony charge for failing to appear in court. A Class C Felony is 3 to 10 years in prison.
All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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What is alleged to have done? Is there a possibility the prosecutors thought the bail amount was excessive so they just drug their feet on charging him?