Retired Judge Accused of Assault, 10 Year Order of Protection Granted Against Him

PARAGOULD, Ark. — A recently retired judge is facing accusations that he assaulted his sister, and a special judge has granted an order of protection for a period of ten years.

Retired Judge Dan Stidham is the subject of an order of protection filed by his sister, Tammy May Stidham, and approved by a special judge in Greene County Circuit Court.

The order of protection was granted on March 27. There were 12 judges to recuse from the case before Special Judge Kathleen Bell was appointed.

NEA Report obtained a police report through FOIA from the Paragould Police Department that details the alleged physical encounter. As of this report, no criminal charges have been filed.

Police Report

According to the PPD report, an officer responded at about 9:13 p.m. on Feb. 24 for a possible assault.

Tammy May, age 60, told police she had been involved in a family-related altercation with her brother, Dan Stidham, at their father’s house. May said the retired 62-year-old judge shoved her two or three times while yelling, “Get the fuck out of here,” grabbed her by the jacket and arm, and shoved her out of the garage door. She said their father, age 85, got between them before she alleged Dan grabbed her by the face.

The officer reported no apparent injuries or bruising, though May had red patches on her upper arms and face. According to the report, May said the marks could have been caused by the shirt she was wearing or by being upset. Photos were taken.

May told police she did not believe she needed medical treatment. She also said Ring cameras were on the property, but the Wi-Fi had been disabled, so video was not immediately available. The officer advised her on how to seek an order of protection and on warrant procedures. No charges were pursued by police at the time of the report, and the case was marked as closed.

NEA Report also obtained the affidavit in support of the filing from the Greene County Circuit Clerk’s office.

Affidavit

In her affidavit, Tammy May alleged that on Feb. 24, 2026, she went to a Paragould residence at her father’s request to remove personal belongings when her brother, Dan Stidham, entered the home and assaulted her.

May alleged that Dan Stidham grabbed her by the jacket, swung her around while yelling at her to leave, and shoved her through a glass door leading to the garage. She further alleged that after that, he grabbed and squeezed her face until their father stepped between them and told him to stop.

In the filing, May said she feared imminent physical harm during the encounter and that the force used against her caused pain in her arm and shoulder, aggravating a prior shoulder injury.

May also stated that on Feb. 26, 2026, she was able to retrieve Ring camera footage from the residence. In the affidavit, she alleged the recovered footage showed Dan Stidham possessed a handgun during the incident and appeared to be under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.

The filing further alleged Stidham had a history of substance abuse, had handled firearms in a dangerous and unstable manner while under the influence, “including waving firearms around and placing them against his own head.”

She argued that he posed a credible and ongoing threat of serious harm to her. Based on those allegations, May asked the court to grant an immediate order of protection.

In his response to the court, Dan Stidham denied “each and every allegation found in the Petitioner’s Petition.”

Court

After the filing, 12 judges automatically assigned to the case recused. The Supreme Court of Arkansas assigned Kathleen Bell, retired circuit judge, to the case – DR-2026-67.

On March 27, Tammy May appeared through her attorney, Teresa Franklin of Legal Aid of Arkansas. Dan appeared through his attorney, Zach Morrison.

After hearing arguments, the court ordered that Dan Stidham have no contact with Tammy May, directly or indirectly, for a period of 10 years. He may not send her emails, make calls, text messages, or send communications through a third party. The order is enforceable by the court’s contempt powers.

See More: Standing Restraining Order

NEA Report attempted to reach Dan Stidham for comment but was unable to do so prior to the publication of this story. If received, it will be added here. 

Dan Stidham stepped down as State District Judge of the 17th Judicial District of Arkansas at the end of 2025. Before becoming a judge, Stidham was known for representing Jessie Misskelley Jr. in the West Memphis Three case.