An Ashley County jury has convicted Rodney Wayne Pennington of Theft of Property Exceeding $5,000 and Breaking or Entering following a trial prosecuted by the 10th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
The charges stem from an incident in early 2025, when Pennington and his son, Austin Parks, went to the residence of Joey Sowyers and unlawfully took two four-wheelers and a pair of boots. The stolen four-wheelers, which belonged to Sowyers, were rendered inoperable and carried an outstanding loan balance of roughly $12,000.
A key piece of evidence presented at trial was Pennington’s own statement to Deputy Josh Pollock of the Ashley County Sheriff’s Department. In his statement, Pennington admitted to committing the theft as an act of revenge, claiming his motivation stemmed from his belief that his wife was allegedly involved in a relationship with Sowyers’ brother.
During the sentencing phase, Circuit Judge Crews Puryear informed the jury of Pennington’s extensive criminal history, which includes at least 15 prior felony convictions dating back to 1997. His most recent conviction occurred in 2021, and he was on parole at the time of the new offenses.
10th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Frank Spain noted Pennington’s long record of criminal activity, telling jurors that “Pennington has been committing felonies longer than I’ve been licensed to practice law.”
The jury ultimately recommended a sentence of 22.5 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction and a $10,000 fine, which Judge Puryear imposed in full.
Following the verdict, Spain thanked the jury for their service, stating, “I want to thank the jury for their verdict, and I hope Mr. Pennington’s sentence serves as a deterrent to other habitual criminals in this district.”
Under the Protect Arkansas Act, Pennington will be required to serve a minimum of 25% of his sentence—approximately 5.6 years—before becoming eligible for parole consideration.
