According to Asst. U.S. Attorney Chris Givens, 44 of the 70 suspects indicted in Operation Blynd Justus were arraigned before a federal judge in Little Rock today.
Of the 70, 50 were arrested Tuesday in and around Blytheville, and five additional suspects turned themselves in Wednesday evening.
One additional suspect, John Franklin, turned himself in Thursday afternoon to the U.S. Marshals in Little Rock.
With 12 of the indictees already in state custody, this leaves 14 still at large. Givens told the CN that they have been in contact with one additional defendant who plans to turn himself in, and investigators are actively seeking the rest.
Of the 44 arraigned Thursday, ten were released on bond, some on home detention and some on other conditions. The other 34 remain in custody, but more bond hearings are expected.
"Everyone was advised of their charges, they all obtained attorneys, and everybody entered a not guilty plea," said Givens. "They were all given trial dates between Sept. 14 - 28, and then we took up the issue of bond. We don't do monetary bonds in this district, so they were released on conditions. Of the 34 who are still detained, 15 are already under state parole or probation for another crime."
Givens said that three of the defendants hired their own attorneys, and all the others were assigned federal public defense attorneys.
sspears@blythevillecourier.com