The mess over Rogers City Attorney Ben Lipscomb continues to grow.

KFSM reports that Benton County Prosecutor-elect Nathan Smith has said he won’t certify Lipscomb to handle misdemeanor criminal cases in local court because he’s announced he’ll refuse to plea bargain. This would produce chaos, Smith said, so he’s deputizing others to handle criminal cases in Rogers, a departure from past practice.

Advertisement

Lipscomb instituted the no-plea-bargain policy in retaliation for the city’s decision to strip Lipscomb of responsibility for handling civil matters and providing legal advice. He’s filed a lawsuit over that decision.

The city contends Lipscomb is not a legal resident of Rogers.

Advertisement

Lipscomb drew attention earlier for getting cited for allegedly flashing law enforcement ID to get preferred seating at a concert. He was investigated, but no charges were filed. A variety of other matters came up in a separate city probe, including the finding that Lipscomb was claiming a homestead tax credit on property outside the city limits. And then there’s this recent city dispute involving a police call made  from Lipscomb’s home.

50 years of fearless reporting and still going strong

Be a part of something bigger and join the fight for truth by subscribing or donating to the Arkansas Times. For 50 years, our progressive, alternative newspaper in Little Rock has been tackling powerful forces through our tough, determined, and feisty journalism. With over 63,000 Facebook followers, 58,000 Twitter followers, 35,000 Arkansas blog followers, and 70,000 email subscribers, it's clear that our readers value our commitment to great journalism. But we need your help to do even more. By subscribing or donating – as little as $1 –, you'll not only have access to all of our articles, but you'll also be supporting our efforts to hire more writers and expand our coverage. Take a stand with the Arkansas Times and make a difference with your subscription or donation today.

Previous article Henderson State faces embarrassing audit on misspending Next article The Obamas talk about shopping, dining and catching a cab while black