Woman Accused of Using Forged Judge’s Signature to Claim Sole Custody

JONESBORO, Ark. — A woman is accused of presenting a forged Missouri court order claiming sole physical custody, bearing a signature a judge later said he had not supplied, according to a probable cause affidavit in Craighead County.

Ashley Jordan Davis faces allegations of second-degree forgery, a Class C felony, and criminal attempt, a Class D felony. The affidavit describes the attempt allegation as an effort to interfere with court-ordered custody.

The investigation began Oct. 9, 2026, when a school resource officer was asked to address a court-order paperwork issue involving Davis, according to the affidavit.

Davis presented documentation purportedly from the Dunklin County, Missouri, Circuit Court granting her “100% sole physical custody” and an order of protection, the affidavit states. The paperwork was dated Oct. 8 and purportedly signed by a judge in that county.

A review revealed several irregularities, including the absence of an official court file stamp, the investigator wrote.

When asked about the order, Davis said it stemmed from an incident in Arkansas in May 2025. She told the officer no police or court documents had been generated at the time to support that claim, according to the affidavit.

The officer contacted the Dunklin County Circuit Court to check the paperwork. A circuit clerk confirmed no such order had been granted Oct. 8 and said the documentation did not appear to be an order normally issued by the court, the affidavit states.

The documents were then sent to Dunklin County for review. The court confirmed it had not issued the order, and Judge Pryor confirmed he had not signed the document for Davis, according to the affidavit.

Davis was taken into custody and transported to the Craighead County Detention Center, the affidavit states.

At an Oct. 12 first appearance, Judge Tommy Fowler found probable cause to detain Davis pending further proceedings and set bond at $100,000 cash or surety. The judge commented on setting her bond so high due to the allegation that she had forged a judge’s signature, which he said was something he took seriously. A public defender was appointed to represent her.

Release conditions include GPS ankle monitoring, no-contact orders and restrictions on alcohol and nonprescribed controlled substances.

Her next court appearance is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Nov. 23 at the Craighead County Courthouse.

All suspect are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.