LONOKE — A former police chief who had been convicted of running a criminal gang was released on bond Monday while prosecutors consider retrying him.
Ex-Lonoke Chief Jay Campbell posted $50,000 bond after a brief hearing before Lonoke County Circuit Judge Barbara Elmore, who said she wanted a quick resolution to the case.
Campbell’s release follows an Arkansas Supreme Court decision throwing out his 2007 convictions over accusations that he ran a criminal enterprise that ripped off drug dealers, dealt drugs, engaged in sex with prisoners and ransacked homes in search of prescription drugs.
In light of the appeal, prosecutors said they are reviewing 20 of the 23 original charges to see which, if any, they will pursue.
Campbell, who has been serving a 40-year sentence, entered the courtroom with a smile, hugged his attorneyand chatted jovially. After the judge granted him bond, he shook hands and embraced supporters.
“I’m just blessed,” Campbell said after the hearing in which Elmore rejected prosecutors’ request for a higher bond.
Campbell, 49, directed criticism at former prosecutor Lona McCastlain, saying she had her sights on a higher office when she brought the case.
McCastlain resigned in 2008 and moved overseas after a failed bid for a circuit judge post.
Her successor, Will Feland, said the Supreme Court ruling that tossed the criminal conspiracy charge and deemed a search warrant used at Campbell’s home illegal, will affect what charges he’ll consider.
He added that two of the original charges are misdemeanors that have essentially been satisfied by time served, so those won’t be pursued.
That leaves charges of residential burglary, counts related to the alleged burglaries and drug-related charges.
Feland said his office is doing an “exhaustive review” of the case, which generated ahefty record.
He said it took a 1-ton truck to haul everything from storage to his office, where it takes up an entire room.
In arguing for a lower bail Monday, defense attorney Patrick Benca brought up the justices’ criticism of how the case was handled, including grouping the charges together.
“His whole conviction is tainted,” Benca told the judge.
The investigation into Campbell also prompted charges against his wife, Kelly, who is serving time at a women’s prison.
Accusations she had sex with a state prisoner at the Lonoke lockup were brought up at trial, which justices said was prejudicial. It’s unclear if the sex allegations would be part of any new trial.
Kelly Campbell’s case is under appeal. As it stands, she becomes eligible for parole in September 2010.
A third person charged in the case, bail bondsmen Bobby Junior Cox, never stood trial. A special judge dismissed charges against Cox.
Back at work in the bail bonds business, Cox wrote Campbell’s bond Monday.
It was unclear how Campbell paid the $50,000 bond. Benca had asked the judge to declare Campbell indigent and allow Benca, a criminal defense attorney in Little Rock, to continue representing Campbell via an appointment.
Bond paperwork doesn’t say if Campbell put down the 10 percent premium of $5,000 cash or what was used as surety.
The judge set a Jan. 22 deadline for prosecutors to file any new charges and tentatively set trial for the week of March 1.
Front Section, Pages 1 on 12/22/2009