JOHNSON COUNTY, ARKANSAS, Ark. — Johnson County has a new sheriff after former sheriff James "Jimmy" Stephens pleaded guilty to drug charges and resigned last year.
Sheriff Tom Hughes was enjoying retirement in Ozone after spending his adult life in law enforcement. He answered the call to serve again, being sworn in as the Johnson County Sheriff on November 18th.
"I decided that rather than being a person that just talks about the problem, I would go in and be part of the solution," Sheriff Hughes said. "Some people that suggested that I should they said that. They needed somebody from the outside of Johnson County, someone who, I guess you could say was a bit of an outsider to the way things worked here."
Sheriff Hughes spent 23 years in the army reserves, retiring as a lieutenant colonel, and 25 years in the Fort Worth police department, mostly leading as a sergeant.
"We're going to have some changes, that's just part of growing pains," Sheriff Hughes said.
One big difference between his time then and now, Fort Worth basic training was 26 weeks in 1992 and now up 47 weeks. Here in the natural state, Johnson County only requires 13 weeks.
"There may be some things that I need to look at and work our guys on. and we'll be reaching out to other cities and other counties and see if there's training that we can get into," Sheriff Hughes said.
Sheriff Hughes is also focused on updating the 27-year-old detention center saying, "We've outgrown our facilities. So, once you outgrow your facilities, you have no choice but to build on."
For now, Sheriff Hughes vows to earn his community's trust and help the sheriff's office move forward.
"I'm going to make sure that we've got the best, honest, and people willing to serve Johnson County residents, because that's what it's all about. I work for the people and so do they," Sheriff Hughes said. "I've got three years, and I can't run again. So, I'm just going to do the best I can and the time I have."
Captain Michael Huber has been with the Johnson County Sheriff's office since September 2020 and says many deputies had to put their heads down and move forward during Stephens' resignation.
Stephens was arrested with drugs in his patrol vehicle after a traffic stop on Dec. 3, 2022.
According to the arrest affidavit, Stephens was identified as a suspect during an FBI narcotics and corruption investigation. On Dec. 3, 2022, the FBI asked Arkansas State Police to pull over Stephens after they reportedly witnessed him leave a house in his patrol vehicle and believed he had illegal drugs in his possession.
When troopers pulled Stephens over, the affidavit says they found three oxycodone, two hydrocodone, a small amount of marijuana, and approximately nine ounces of marijuana butter in his patrol vehicle.
Stephens pleaded guilty to felony possession of a controlled substance and had to resign from the sheriff's office. He was sentenced to 6 years of probation, a $10,000 fine, and other fees totaling $590.
"There was that cloud hanging over us that we had to live with. And, you know, we were kind of like in limbo the whole the whole time," Captain Huber said.
"My feeling is, is that the community has a great sheriff," Captain Huber said.
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