RISON - A plea agreement be‐tween Jared Spears, 35, of New Edinburg, and special prosecu‐tor Emily White of Little Rock has resulted in two rape charges being “nolle prossed” and a charge of sexual assault being amended to endangering the welfare of a minor, first degree.
White said the two rape charges filed against Spears on May 6, 2021, were nolle prossed, which means they will no longer be pursued by the court.
Meanwhile, White said the Class B felony sexual assault charge was amended to endan‐gering welfare of minor, which is a Class D felony. Spears pleaded guilty to the charge of endangering welfare of a minor.
A sentencing order filed on Aug. 22 in Judge David Talley’s Cleveland County Circuit Court showed that Spears was to pay a $1,000 fine and $596 in associ‐ated court fees, as well as $2,000 in restitution. There was no jail time ordered in the case.
Details involving the case itself were sealed by the court at the outset.
Spears is the superintendent for the Cleveland County Road Department.
Both of the original rape charges were filed as Class Y felonies punishable by 10 to 40 years to life in prison and a fine not to exceed $25,000. The sexual assault charge was a Class B felony punishable by five to 20 years in prison and a fine not to exceed $15,000.
Spears was arrested April 8, 2021, and released the following day after posting $100,000 bond.
Thirteenth Judicial District Prosecutor Jeffrey Rodgers said the charges stemmed from an investigation conducted by Arkan‐sas State Police.
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