Man Indicted in Court on Federal Kidnapping Charges

EL DORADO, AR—Conner Eldridge, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that Kevin Bolton, age 38, appeared today in United States Magistrate Court for arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Barry Bryant on charges for kidnapping resulting in death. Bolton will remain in custody pending trial.

U.S. Attorney Eldridge commented, “We remain dedicated to prosecuting violent crime that occurs anywhere in the Western District of Arkansas. These crimes threaten our communities, and our job is to work together to hold those who commit these crimes accountable. I appreciate all of the hard work by Clark County Sheriff Jason Watson and Clark County Prosecuting Attorney Blake Batson in cooperating to see that justice is done in this case.“

On January 29, 2014, a federal grand jury issued an indictment against Bolton charging one count of kidnapping resulting in death. The statutory penalty for the offense is life imprisonment or death.

This case is being investigated by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the FBI and the Sheriff’s Office of Cherokee, North Carolina. United States Attorney Conner Eldridge, First Assistant United States Attorney Wendy Johnson, and Assistant United States Attorney Allison Bragg are prosecuting the case for the United States.

The charges in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless or until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.