Arrest made, suspect sought in attempt to smuggle drugs into BXCO Jail

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Kevin Burch

The Baxter County Sheriff’s Office has arrested one person, 28-year-old Cindy Marie Piatt of Midway, on multiple felony charges and is searching for another, 31-year-old Kevin Eugene Burch, in connection with an investigation into an attempt to smuggle drugs into the Detention Center through a Bible. Additional charges have also been filed against a current jail inmate, Mikel Blain Short, also of Midway, who is the intended recipient in connection with the incident.

Piatt was booked into the jail in lieu of $75,000 bond and will appear in Circuit Court.

According to Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery, on August 1st, a man, identified by video surveillance as Burch, came to the Baxter County Detention Center to deliver a Bible to inmate Short. The Bible was taken by a jail supervisor. An inspection of it found drugs hidden inside the binding. Suspected methamphetamine, marijuana, and tobacco in vacuum sealed baggies were confiscated.

Further investigation into the matter found Birch, Short and Piatt had conspired together to purchase a Bible, conceal the drugs, and have it delivered to the Detention Center. Burch and Piat allegedly used a cell phone to facilitate the plan. Enhanced charges are pending because the delivery, with the drugs hidden inside, took place within 1,000 feet of the Old Hickory Park in Mountain Home. In addition, all three offenders have been convicted of multiple felony crimes in the past, qualifying each of them for an additional penalty enhancement as habitual offenders.

Bench warrants were obtained and Tuesday investigators went to an address on Baxter County Road 508, in the Midway area, where they arrested Piatt. During the arrest, while waiting for someone to arrive to pick up her children, Piatt handed off approximately 25.1 grams of methamphetamine to a 17-year-old juvenile female to conceal. The drugs were discovered and seized.

Piatt was booked into the Detention Center Tuesday afternoon. She faces felony charges of furnishing prohibited articles, two counts delivery of methamphetamine, conspiracy to furnish prohibited articles, unlawful use of a communications device, the mentioned penalty enhancements as well as two more enhancements for delivery of a controlled substance to a minor and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, including gross neglect of parental duty resulting in delinquency

Montgomery says she has three previous bookings in the Baxter County Jail, as well as prior bookings at other jails in the area.

Short, who is being held in custody awaiting bed space at the Arkansas Department of Correction, now faces additional felony charges of conspiracy to furnish prohibited articles, unlawful use of a communications device, proximity to certain facilities and a penalty enhancement as a habitual offender.

Short has been booked into the Baxter County Jail on 13 prior occasions since 2000.

Deputies are still searching for Burch, who has an outstanding bench warrant on multiple felony charges related to the incident.

Burch has been booked into the Baxter County Jail on 20 prior occasions since 2004, as well as several bookings at other area jails.

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Burch is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 425-7000 or submit an anonymous tip at https://www.baxtercountysheriff.com/crime-tips.

Mikel Short



Cindy Piatt

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