Sheriff Lance Bonds states the Defendant, Michael Shane Fullerton of Florida, was arrested on January 31, 2018, and subsequently charged in the Circuit Court of Stone County, Arkansas with (1) Financial Identity Fraud, a Class “C” Felony, in violation of ARK. CODE ANN. § 5-37-227; (2) Non-Financial Identity Fraud, a Class “D” Felony, in violation of ARK. CODE ANN. § 5-37-227; (3) Theft by Receiving, a Class “D” Felony, in violation of ARK. CODE ANN. § 5-36-106; (4) No Driver’s License in Possession, in violation of ARK. CODE ANN. § 27-16-601; and (5) Driving on a Suspended Driver’s License, in violation of ARK. CODE ANN. § 27-16-303.

That a cash or professional bond in the amount of Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000) was set. That despite a bail amount being set, the Defendant has not presented cash or surety sufficient for his release. That the Defendant remains incarcerated at the Stone County Detention Center.

The Sheriff states that phone calls were intercepted by Stone County Investigators, Brad Breeding and Sean Hickman, that uniquely identified conversations between the Defendant and the Co-Conspirator. That through these conversations, investigators have identified the following crimes that the Defendant (Fullerton) and Co-Conspirator have engaged, individually or collectively, in a pattern of the following the offenses:

• Conspiracy to Intimidate a Witness, in violation of Ark. Code Ann. § 5-53-109 or Witness Tampering, in violation of Ark. Code Ann. § 5-53-110. On February 21, 2018, the Defendant and the Co-Conspirator again engaged in a recorded telephone in which the Defendant and Co-Conspirator discussed the whereabouts of two (2) of the Defendant’s underlying charges, Financial Identity Fraud and Non-Financial Identity Fraud, stem from his possession of documents belonging to defendant. In the February 21, 2018, conversation, the Defendant and the Co-Conspirator discuss how no one “is going to get a hold of him” and how both Defendant and Co-Conspirator are committed to informing anyone who inquires that co-defendant is either in New Mexico or Mexico.
• Conspiracy to Intimidate a Witness, in violation of Ark. Code Ann. § 5-53-109 or Witness Tampering, in violation of Ark. Code Ann. § 5-53-110. On February 6, 2018, the Defendant and Co-Conspirator engaged in a recorded telephone conversation in which the Defendant and Co-Defendant discussed another witness, the owner of the vehicle underlying the Defendant’s Theft by Receiving and the reporter of the vehicle being stolen to Florida authorities. The Defendant is heard stating to the Co-Conspirator, “Your mom f_ _ _ _d me up real good by reporting the car stolen.” To which the Co-Conspirator replies, “That will be dropped.” The Prosecuting Attorney’s Office later received an Affidavit from the same witness from the Defendant’s attorney recanting the stolen nature of the vehicle.
• Solicitation to commit Capital Murder, in violation of Ark. Code Ann. § 5-10-101(a)(4). On March 5, 2018, the Defendant and the Co-Conspirator engaged in a recorded telephone conversation in which the Defendant commanded, urged, and requested that the Co-Conspirator “work your magic,” and “be cold,” and “tactfully KILL HER.” The Defendant then instructs the Co-Conspirator to meet with his father, go to a local pawn shop where he knows the owner, select a firearm, and begin working with his father to learn how to shoot the firearm. Several times through the conversation, the Defendant tells the Co-Conspirator to be “ruthless.”

Michael Shane Fullerton is currently in custody awaiting a Stone County Circuit Court date.  Sixteenth Judicial Prosecuting Attorney Holly Meyer has formally charged Fullerton with:

COUNT 1:      SOLICITATION TO COMMIT ABUSE OF PUBLIC TRUST

(A.C.A. § 5-3-301(a); A.C.A. § 5-52-101 (a)(4))

COUNT 2:      CONSPIRACY TO INTIMIDATE A WITNESS

(A.C.A. § 5-3-401; A.C.A. § 5-53-109 (a)(2))

COUNT 3:      SOLICITATION TO COMMIT CAPITAL MURDER

(A.C.A. § 5-3-301(a); A.C.A. § 5-10-101 (a)(4))

COUNT 3:      CONSPIRACY FOR WITNESS TAMPERING

(A.C.A. §5-3-401; A.C.A. § 5-53-110 (a)(1))

Fullerton's bond has been set at $250,000.00.