Harrisburg, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – Aug. 21, 2025 – A Poinsett County man has been sentenced to ten years in prison after pleading guilty to attempted capital murder.
Christopher A. Ford, 59, of Harrisburg, had been charged with trying to kill Poinsett County District Judge Ron Hunter by shooting at Hunter’s home in August 2024.
Circuit Judge Pam Honeycutt sentenced Ford to 120 months in the Arkansas Department of Corrections with 352 days of jail time credit.
She also issued a 240-month suspended sentence to Ford on charges of committing a terroristic act stemming from an unrelated incident that occurred in May 2024. Honeycutt ordered Ford’s family to surrender the firearm used in this separate incident so that it could be destroyed.
All other charges related to the attack on Judge Hunter, as well as the separate May 2024 incident, were dropped.
On Friday night, Aug. 23, 2024, Hunter, who lives on Greenfield Road in Poinsett County, called 911 to report that an unidentified man was threatening him on his property. Hunter said the man “came by in the dark and began spewing threats and obscenities from a hundred yards away.”
About an hour later, Hunter’s wife, Shelly, called 911 and reported that someone was firing shots into their home. A deputy sheriff was dispatched to the residence. While the deputy and Hunter were talking, more shots were fired in their direction. More deputies were dispatched. While the additional officers were responding, the suspect directed his shots at them. No one was injured.
A search involving officers from several police agencies and three drones was conducted the same night and much of the following day. In addition, Poinsett County Sheriff Kevin Molder had solicited help from the public. “If anyone has seen any suspicious activity or anyone walking along Greenfield Road Friday night, please call the Sheriff’s Department.”
Around 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024, deputies, Arkansas State Police and FBI agents executed a search warrant at Ford’s residence off Greenfield Road. At that time Ford was arrested and charged in connection with the shooting incident.
During their investigation, deputies discovered that one of District Judge Ron Hunter’s mules had been shot during the August 23 shooting incident. And, while searching Ford’s residence, several fake one-hundred-dollar bills were found.
In December 2024, another man, Timmy Taylor, was taken into custody on charges of possession of a firearm by certain persons and tampering with physical evidence in connection with the incident.
The investigation of Taylor began after detectives received information suggesting that Taylor was involved in discussions regarding the disposal of the firearm used in the Hunter shooting. During an interview, Taylor admitted that he had hidden a gun linked to the incident, according to a news release from the Poinsett County Sheriff’s Office.
Poinsett County Detective Devon Stroud’s investigation revealed that Taylor was present during the aftermath of the shooting and was approached by Christopher Ford, the alleged shooter, who instructed him to dispose of the firearm.
Court records indicate charges are still pending against Taylor. Taylor was released on bond in December. Circuit Judge Scott Ellington issued an order removing the requirement for Taylor to wear an ankle monitor while released on bond in June. His trial is currently scheduled for September.
