U.S.

Department of Justice
United States Attorney
Eastern District of Arkansas
425 West Capitol Avenue, Suite 500
Post Office Box 1229
Little Rock, Arkansas 72203-1229

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 14, 2016
501-340-2600

(501) 340-2600

CONTACT: Christopher R. Thyer

United States Attorney

FORMER BALD KNOB POLICE CHIEF

PLEADS GUILTY TO GUN CRIME
LITTLE ROCKChristopher R. Thyer, United States Attorney for the Eastern
District of Arkansas, Jeffrey Reed, Resident Agent in Charge for the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), and Col. William J. Bryant of the Arkansas
State Police, announced today that former Bald Knob Police Chief Erek Balentine, 31, of
Bald Knob, pled guilty to a felony Information charging him with possessing a stolen
firearm. In addition, he agreed to personally pay more than $12,000 in restitution relating
to an incident in which his personal truck burned shortly prior to his resignation from the
police department.
Todays plea hearing took place in Little Rock before United States District Judge
Brian S. Miller. Judge Miller will sentence Balentine at a later date.
Balentines final day as Bald Knob police chief was October 5, 2015. In spring
2015, Balentine had a conversation with a former White County police officer who was
interested in donating a shotgun to the Bald Knob Police Department. Bald Knob was
attempting to raise money for a K-9 unit for the department, and the purpose of this
firearm donation was to auction off the shotgun to obtain funds to retrofit a police car
with a cage to hold the K-9 unit.
The former officer purchased the shotgun, a Beretta, Model A300, 12-gauge
shotgun, for $1,199 and had it shipped to All Star Pawn in Bald Knob, a federal firearm
licensee. The donor intended for All Star Pawn to hold the shotgun and make a legal
transfer to the winner of the auction, after the police department had the funds. At no time
was Balentine or anyone authorized to keep the shotgun for personal use prior to the
auction.

On October 2, 2015, the last business day he was still police chief, Balentine
retrieved the Beretta shotgun from All Star Pawn. On October 14, 2015, Arkansas State
Police Corporal Mike McNeill received information that Balentine was attempting to sell
the shotgun, which was still police property, to an individual with whom Balentine was
acquainted. Earlier that day, Balentine sent this acquaintance a text message with a
picture of the Beretta shotgun, still in its case, which stated, brand new, I will take $800
for it. Balentine also said that he needed the money for personal reasons.
After this communication agents observed Balentine go to his residence in Bald
Knob and retrieve what appeared to be a gun in its case and proceed toward the location
of the proposed gun transaction. Cpl. McNeill and ATF Special Agent David Oliver then
initiated a traffic stop on Balentine, at which time he admitted he had a gun in the car.
The shotgun was never auctioned.
During the plea hearing, in addition to admitting to the facts of the stolen firearm,
Balentine did not contest facts offered by the United States to support a restitution
payment of $12,968.71 to Progressive Insurance related to a fraudulent insurance claim
for a vehicle fire. This restitution is designed to repay Progressive for insurance payments
from the fire which destroyed Balentines 2007 Dodge Ram pickup truck.
The fire occurred at Balentines residence on September 24, 2015, and was
immediately determined to be arson. At Mondays plea hearing the United Statesin
providing a factual basis for the proposed restitution orderpresented numerous
examples of evidence which suggest that Balentine was a participant in causing the fire
which resulted in the damage to his truck. The United States informed Judge Miller that it
would not pursue charges before a Grand Jury for arson and mail fraud, and Balentine
agreed to repay as restitution the money Progressive paid as a result of Balentines
fraudulent insurance claim.
The charge of possession of a stolen firearm carries a maximum sentence of up to
10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. The
investigation was conducted by the Arkansas State Police and the ATF. The case is being
prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chris Givens.

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