POCAHONTAS, Ark. — An area activist known for confrontations with public officials over transparency laws has been jailed in Randolph County after running afoul of a district judge during court.
Lucas Peppers, 43, runs the Arkansas Corruption Channel on Facebook. He has been involved in past controversies with government officials, including allegations that the Hoxie mayor tried to run him over in a vehicle.
Peppers was arrested on July 9 at the Randolph County Sheriff’s Department for contempt of court, allegedly disrupting the court by recording in the adjacent room.
The contempt order states that during the active court session, Peppers appeared at the entry door to the courtroom. The door has a glass through which the court can be seen from the lobby of the sheriff’s office.
“He stood at the threshold of the courtroom door, peering through the window, waving at the court and recording the proceedings with a mobile device,” the findings by Judge Alex Bigger said.
The court document says Peppers was distractive and disruptive to the court. Peppers was told by the bailiff that “his conduct was unacceptable and that any continuation of such behavior would be considered contemptuous.”
The bailiff returned to the courtroom. Peppers remained in the hallway, but the court document says he was visibly seen pacing behind the door while continuing to record using his mobile device.
“Within minutes, he returned to the entry door of the courtroom and resumed recording the court proceedings through the window,” the judge wrote.
Peppers was found in direct contempt of court, and the judge ordered his arrest.
The order states that Peppers was sentenced to 30 days in the county jail.
In the findings of fact, Judge Bigger noted Peppers was in the areas immediately adjacent to the courtroom and was disruptive by waving at the court and recording through the window. The findings say that Peppers violated Administrative Order 6, which governs the broadcasting, recording, or photographing in the courtroom and areas immediately adjacent thereto.
Obtained Through FOIA: Peppers, Lucas Contempt Order
Administrative Order Number 6 – Broadcasting, Recording, or Photographing in the Courtroom (source)
(a) Application – Exception. This Order shall apply to all courts, circuit, district, and appellate, except as set out below.
(b) Authorization. A judge may authorize broadcasting, recording, or photographing in the courtroom and areas immediately adjacent thereto during sessions of court, recesses between sessions, and on other occasions, provided that the participants will not be distracted, nor will the dignity of the proceedings be impaired…
Peppers was one of two men seen in a viral video posted last week showing a ‘First Amendment audit’ in the City of Pocahontas. He was arrested two days after the video was posted.
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