Cearley To Join Prosecutor’s Office
Last updated Friday, November 7, 2008 7:56 PM CST in News
By Robin Mero
The Morning News
BENTONVILLE — Benton County Prosecutor Van Stone announced Friday that Stuart Cearley will join his office as chief deputy prosecutor beginning Dec. 1.
Cearley, 46, is chief deputy prosecutor in Lonoke County, a job he’s held since 2003.
Benton County’s chief deputy spot has been vacant since the resignation of Shane Wilkinson in August.
“I’m excited to have this opportunity,” Cearley said Friday. “Van and his office have a tremendous reputation for being zealous advocates of justice.”
Cearley formerly worked as an Arkansas assistant attorney general and as a deputy prosecutor with the Pulaski County prosecutor’s office, according to a news release from Stone.
“Mr. Cearley brings a wealth of experience to our office. During his career he has tried over 75 jury trials, including homicide, child sexual abuse, rape, drug delivery and public corruption cases,” Stone stated in the release.
Cearley, who pronounces his name “curly,” is a native of Camden and graduate of Southern Arkansas University. His law degree is from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where he earned high honors and was a member of the school’s law review, the release states.
Cearley said he is bringing his wife and three children to Northwest Arkansas.
Stone said his office is now fully staffed with 16 deputy prosecutors.
Recent hires include:
w Virginia Gottman, a former assistant district attorney in Dayton, Ohio., who will handle general felony prosecution in Circuit Judge David Clinger’s division
w Leah Clubb, a former assistant district attorney in Jasper County, Mo., also assigned to general felonies in Clinger’s division
w Travis Gray, a recent graduate of the University of Arkansas School of Law, who is handling misdemeanor cases in district court
Stone said he’s eliminating the designation of senior trial attorney. Drew Ledbetter held that position until his resignation in mid-October.
Ledbetter resigned amid an allegation that he accessed e-mail of the former chief deputy, Wilkinson, without permission. Special prosecutor H.G. Foster was appointed to investigate that claim at Stone’s request. Foster visited Benton County once to begin his inquiry. He did not return several voice messages left this week on his office and cell phone seeking an update.
Reader Comments (4 comment(s))
The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsibility of their authors. The Morning News does not review comments before their publication, nor do we guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by our comment policy. If you see a comment that violates our policy, please notify the web editor.
Not already registered?
mole wrote on Nov 8, 2008 9:08 AM: