Archive - Oct 4, 2012 - News Article
A 2013 trial date has been set for former Benton firefighter Timothy Ryan Bodkin for allegedly downloading hundreds of images of child pornography to a computer in his home.
Bodkin, 38, was released from the Saline County jail on Aug. 31, after a family member paid a $200,000 sheriff's bond. He is facing a thousand counts of felony possession of child pornography.
Attorneys for Bodkin appeared before Saline County Judge Bobby McCallister on Monday, and a two-day jury trial for Bodkin was set for Feb. 26 and 27.
The Saline County Prosecuting Attorney's office has completed an investigation into alleged perjury committed by Benton resident Ricky David Tripp during testimony Tripp gave in a Saline County Circuit Court proceeding in which Circuit Judge Gary Arnold presided.
Tripp was called to testify on July 12, 2012, in a proceeding stemming from a lawsuit filed by Bryant Aldermen Adrian Henley, Brenda Miller and Danny Steele. The three claim they have been slandered and defamed by anonymous bloggers on the social website MySaline.com.
A former Bryant teacher posted bail shortly after she surrendered voluntarily at the Saline County Detention Center on Wednesday morning, authorities say.
Courtney Speer, 31, has been charged with six counts of sexual assault of a minor: four counts in Bryant and two counts in Benton.
Lt. Don Birdsong of the Saline County Detention Center said Speer was released after posting bond. Bail was set at $20,000 and the court date is slated for Nov. 13.
