BENTON COUNTY, ARKANSAS, Ark. — Chief Deputy Prosecutor Bryan Sexton will be Benton County's Prosecuting Attorney. Having joined the county in 2006, the 56% vote for Sexton brings experience to the prosecuting attorney's office.
Joshua Robinson was appointed Interim Prosecuting Attorney in 2022 after Nathan Smith resigned from the position. Robinson explains that he and Sexton worked as deputy prosecuting attorneys before their promotions.
"I'm excited for his leadership. I'm genuinely proud of him and happy for him," Robinson explained.
Both Robinson and Sexton expressed that they'll continue to build on the foundation of their predecessors to keep Benton County safe.
"It's not an accident that we live in a safe place ... Bryan and I both share a vision, as did Nathan: being deliberate and proactive to maintain our way of life," Robinson explained.
"That foundation will allow us to come springboard into dealing with some of the issues that we're starting to see in Benton County," Sexton said.
Sexton explained that many are moving in from large metropolitan areas and might not expect the same crimes in Northwest Arkansas. Yet Sexton says, with growth, they're starting to see those types of crimes like human trafficking.
"To respond to that we've sent for prosecutors with specialized training so they can help our officers work on investigations, gather up evidence, and prepare that evidence for presentation at trial," Sexton said.
One issue both Robinson and Sexton are trying to get ahead of is the use of technology as evidence in courtrooms.
"Over the last few years, we've seen development in certain areas of investigations and prosecution, particularly with digital evidence," Robinson said.
"There is not a case that we handle that does not have some level of technology evidence," Sexton explained.
Sexton adds that for appeals cases, they have to maintain and secure technological evidence to protect a defendant's constitutional rights.
Sexton hopes to address the Protect Arkansas Act as Benton County's prosecuting attorney. With harsher penalties and more difficulty getting parole, the pressure is on Sexton as jails fill.
"We've got to make some calls to ensure that there's carrots in the system for people who follow through and do the right thing. But there's also stakes in the system to make sure people understand that if you don't do the right thing, there will be repercussions," Sexton explained.
Robinson will serve as the Interim Prosecuting Attorney for the remainder of the year, and Sexton will be sworn in on Jan. 1, 2025, to serve the remaining 2 years of former prosecuting attorney Nathan Smith's term.
While Robinson says it's ultimately up to Sexton if he returns to the office after that position, both hope to continue working together in the prosecutor's office.
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