Craighead County Juries Convict Three in Separate Child Abuse Cases

JONESBORO, Ark. — Three defendants were convicted in separate child abuse cases in Craighead County during July, including two men found guilty of raping 13-year-old girls and a woman convicted of attempting to kill her 12-year-old daughter, according to a release from Prosecuting Attorney Sonia Hagood.

“Our victims in each case were incredibly strong,” Hagood said. “Each of them endured unimaginable trauma and still found the courage to confront their abusers in court. We are grateful for their bravery—it made these convictions possible and helped us remove predators from our streets.”

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The first case concluded July 8, when a jury convicted Christin Helms, 35, of attempted murder and endangering the welfare of a minor. Prosecutors said Helms threatened to kill herself and her daughter by crashing her vehicle on Arkansas Highway 163 on March 9, 2021. She veered off the road and struck a tree, seriously injuring both.

Circuit Judge Chris Thyer sentenced Helms to 360 months in the Arkansas Department of Corrections for attempted murder and 72 months for endangering the welfare of a minor.

On July 15, jurors found James Mansfield, 33, guilty on four counts of rape. Prosecutors said Mansfield sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl over a three-week period while serving as her caretaker. He was sentenced to 480 months in prison, with an additional 60-month sentencing enhancement based on the victim’s age.

The final case concluded July 24, when John Walton, 46, was convicted of rape, sexual assault and sexual indecency with a child involving a 13-year-old girl. Prosecutors said Walton received a total sentence of 1,302 months in the Department of Corrections, which includes multiple enhancements due to the age of the victim.

“Children are society’s most vulnerable individuals,” she said. “We are honored to be their advocates in the courtroom, and we will continue to fight to protect them from those who seek to do them harm.”

“I am grateful to the dedicated investigators and deputy prosecutors who worked tirelessly on these cases,” Hagood added. “Because of their efforts, three dangerous individuals will no longer pose a threat to children in our community.”