A DeQueen, Ark., man was ordered to remain in custody Thursday at the end of a detention hearing before a federal judge in Texarkana.
Randy Terrell Hayes, 31, was arrested in August 2017 on a federal criminal complaint accusing him of selling methamphetamine to an undercover informant working with law enforcement. A federal grand jury in the Texarkana Division of the Western District of Arkansas issued an eight-count indictment in September accusing Hayes of methamphetamine distribution.
At the time of his arrest last year, Hayes’ attorney, Craig Henry of Texarkana, waived the issue of detention for Hayes but reserved the right to request a hearing on the matter at a later date. Thursday morning U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Bryant heard arguments from Henry and from Assistant U.S. Attorney Candace Taylor on the issue.
Henry called Hayes’ mother for the defense. The mother testified that Hayes can live with her and that she will contact law enforcement if Hayes violates his conditions of release. Taylor argued that Hayes is a danger to society and that the nature of the crimes with which he is charged warrant his continued incarceration.
Taylor said Hayes has multiple prior felony convictions for drug-related offenses, for second-degree sexual assault and for failing to register as a sex offender. Taylor said the government’s evidence consists of videotapes with audio of alleged methamphetamine transactions and lab reports which show the amount and purity level of the drugs.
Taylor noted that Hayes was on parole at the time of the crimes alleged in his indictment. Hayes allegedly sold methamphetamine on the following dates: May 16, 2017; May 30, 2017; June 1, 2017; June 5, 2017; June 6, 2017; June 8, 2017; June 15, 2017 and June 27, 2017, according to the indictment.
Bryant denied Hayes’ request for release. Bryant said the offenses facing Hayes include a presumption that a defendant will be detained and that several of the counts are punishable by a minimum of five years. Bryant said Hayes’ history of committing crimes while on probation and parole factored into his decision as well.
“The evidence against you is strong,” Bryant said. “There is a very good likelihood you’ll be convicted.”
Hayes is also facing a charge of methamphetamine delivery in Sevier County. Acoording to court documents in that case, Hayes sold between 10 and 200 grams of methamphetamine June 5, 2017. The state charge facing Hayes is punishable by 10 to 40 years or life in prison. Hayes is currently being held in the Miller County jail.
