JONESBORO, Ark. — A registered sex offender arrested during a May compliance operation is facing probation revocation proceedings less than a month after prosecutors dismissed a failure-to-register charge in a separate case.
Robert Shane McKenzie, 51, appeared Wednesday, Aug. 26, in Craighead County court on a petition to revoke his probation. A judge found probable cause to detain McKenzie and set his bond at $15,000 cash or surety.
An arrest warrant on the revocation petition was issued Aug. 14 — 18 days after McKenzie received a negotiated plea agreement in Poinsett County.
The Craighead County revocation proceeding stems from a 2020 case originally involving charges of internet stalking of a child and computer child pornography. The court filings provided to NEA Report do not state the specific alleged probation violation supporting the petition.
McKenzie is scheduled to return to court Sept. 30.
NEA Report previously reported that McKenzie was among 12 people arrested during “Operation Protect Our Children,” a sex offender compliance operation conducted by the Poinsett County Sheriff’s Office and Arkansas Probation and Parole.
McKenzie was accused of failing to comply with sex offender registration or address-reporting requirements and possessing drug paraphernalia. Court records list May 6 as the offense date.
On July 27, McKenzie entered a negotiated guilty plea to felony possession of drug paraphernalia involving methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin or fentanyl. He was sentenced to 48 months of supervised probation.
McKenzie pleaded not guilty to the failure-to-register charge. Prosecutors entered a nolle prosequi disposition that same day, dropping the charge.
NEA Report attempted to call Prosecutor Sonia Hagood to ask why her office made this deal. Our efforts to reach her have been unsuccessful since our report on her office violating judicial rules and changing judge’s bonds behind their backs. She also stopped attending hearings before the judge that raised the issue, but Hagood claims she does not act in retaliation.
All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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