Chief Deputies Jimmy “Bo” Hudson and Santrice Kearney, administrators of the Jefferson County Juvenile Detention Center and the W.C. “Dub” Brassell Adult Detention Center, appeared before Circuit Judge Rob Wyatt on Wednesday for a show cause hearing. The court convened to determine whether the two should be held in contempt for failing to follow judicial orders in the case of 17-year-old Imari Holliman.
Holliman, charged with first-degree battery in 2023, was released from the juvenile facility without posting the $100,000 bond set by a bench warrant or receiving a court order authorizing his release. Judge Wyatt’s court had issued orders regarding Holliman’s detention, including a transfer to circuit court and evaluations at the Arkansas State Hospital. These directives appear to have been overlooked by detention center staff.
Sheriff Lafayette Woods had previously stated that his staff believed there was an order to release Holliman. However, a court order transferring Holliman’s case to circuit court was reportedly missing from his file at the juvenile center. Sheriff Woods also noted that Kearney was not yet the facility’s administrator at the time of the release.
Judge Wyatt questioned why Holliman was never transferred to the adult detention facility, given that he was being charged as an adult. Both Hudson and Kearney explained that their facilities had never housed individuals under the age of 18. Wyatt then stated that Arkansas law does allow juveniles charged as adults to be held in adult facilities.
Perhaps more troubling, since Holliman was discovered to be missing, no public statements were issued by the Sheriff’s Office. Judge Wyatt expressed deep concern over the lack of urgency and transparency, calling it an “absolute failure” to release a violent suspect without proper authorization or public accountability.
In response, Kearney told the court that she has implemented new policies to prevent similar occurrences in the future. These include requiring a Captain, a Major, and herself to approve all inmate releases. Kearney also testified that the crucial bench warrant and transport order were not in Holliman’s file but were later found in the state’s online court records system, Court Connect.
Judge Wyatt confirmed that these documents had indeed been sent to the Sheriff’s Office and ordered immediate action. He mandated weekly updates on efforts to locate and apprehend Holliman and required the Sheriff’s Office to issue a press release with information about the fugitive.
Though he chose not to hold Hudson or Kearney in contempt, citing their corrective efforts, Judge Wyatt delivered a stern warning: any future lapses in following court orders will bring those responsible back before him.
“This is an absolute failure on the part of the Sheriff’s Office,” Wyatt stated, emphasizing that his orders are to be executed without exception.
A memorandum detailing ongoing efforts to locate Holliman must be submitted to the prosecutor’s office, as the county continues working to correct the breakdown in its detention and legal coordination systems.
