Police: Suspect threatened, assaulted victim at multiple locations

By Kyle Troutman [email protected]

A man released from prison in Cameron has been extradited to Barry County and booked into the jail, facing four felonies relating to an alleged kidnapping and assault in 2023.

Jeremy James, born 1986, of Cameron, is charged with kidnapping, second-degree domestic assault, armed criminal action and tampering or attempting to tamper with a victim in a felony prosecution.

According to a probable cause statement filed by Det. Abby Parsons on Dec. 20, 2023, on Dec. 5, 2023, deputies were notified by Seligman Police Chief Matt Phillips of an alleged assault occurring in Barry County and Carroll County, Ark. Phillips stated the victim had significant injuries and was hospitalized at that time.

On Dec. 8, 2023, Parsons and a Carroll County detective interviewed the victim, who disclosed James came to a relative’s residence in Barry County, took the victim’s cell phone and allegedly stated the victim was leaving with him or he would kill the victim’s family.

The victim said they left with James in a small, green four-door vehicle, and James drove through backroad in Barry County while allegedly assaulting the victim multiple times. The victim said James struck them with his fist in the head and back, and he jabbed the victim on the legs with a screwdriver.

The victim said on one backroad, James dragged them out of the vehicle and began kicking the victim’s head and back.

The victim said James drove them to another residence in Carroll County, where the assaults allegedly continued. On Dec. 13, 2023, the victim called the Barry County Sheriff’s Office wanting to change their statement.

On Dec. 14, 2023, James was taken into custody while with the victim, who said the call to change the statement was at James’ direction, and the victim said they are afraid of James.

In a post-Miranda interview on Dec. 15, 2023, James denied assaulting the victim.

Parsons noted in the statement James has a history of fleeing and failed to appear at three previous court hearings. She also said James poses a danger to the victim, community or other persons because James allegedly assaulted the victim to the point the victim feared death.

James was booked into the Barry County jail on June 30 after being released from the Crossroads Correctional Center in Cameron. his bond is set at $15,000, cash only. 

He has been arraigned, and a bond hearing is set for 8:30 a.m. Thursday in the courtroom of Judge Robert Foulke.