Kyle James Tilley
A 22-year-old Jordan-area man who received a 10-year prison sentence Aug. 15 after pleading guilty to a long string of crimes is now facing a new charge in which he is accused of possessing a stolen pistol.
During his mid-August court appearance, Kyle James Tilley admitted committing various crimes during a six-month period beginning in January. The individual incidents took place Jan. 24, March 5, twice in April and twice in July.
On two occasions Tilley was accused of stealing items from close relatives living near him along Hopewell Hollow Road.
There has been another development in the Tilley case. A 37-year-old Salesville man has been charged with allegedly helping Tilley elude law officers searching for him.
The hunt for Tilley began July 20, and he was arrested a couple of days later at a Mountain Home motel. Officers found him in possession of a pistol, which turned out to have been reported stolen.
A new case had to be set up, since the theft of the pistol was not reported until after Tilley had pled to his other charges and been sentenced to prison.
Just hours before his arrest, the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office added Tilley to its “Most Wanted” list.
At one point during the hunt for Tilley, officers converged on Briarcliff after hearing the fugitive had been dropped off there. A deputy sheriff did report seeing Tilley, but he fled into the woods. Tracking dogs from the state prison at Calico Rock were brought to the scene. They were reported to have picked up a scent, but lost it after several hours.
Tilley is being held in the Baxter County jail awaiting transportation to prison.
He appeared in circuit court last week by way of a video hookup between the jail and court complex and entered a not guilty plea to theft by receiving for having the stolen pistol.
The second man, Jeffery Scott Shepherd, became involved in the case when officers went to his residence along State Highway 5 South, after a report was received that Tilley had been spotted there. A female at the residence told the lawmen Shepherd was not at home, and said she had not seen Tilley for several days.
Jeffery Shepherd
According to the probable cause affidavit, officers returned to the residence later the same day and found Shepherd at home. He denied having any contact with Tilley. He was reminded Tilley was a fugitive, and was asked to call authorities if he had any information on his whereabouts.
On July 22, information was received that Tilley was staying at the motel in Mountain Home. Officers from MHPD, along with an agent from the company holding Tilley’s bail bond, went to the motel, located the fugitive and arrested him.
The motel clerk provided documents showing the room was rented in Shepherd’s name for a two-night stay. Shepherd was alleged to have told the clerk he would be occupying the room with his wife. Video surveillance showed Shepherd and Tilley entering the side door of the motel, with no female present.
Shepherd was booked into the Baxter County jail Aug. 26, with bond set at $5,400. He also appeared in Baxter County Circuit Court last week and entered a not guilty plea to a charge of hindering apprehension.
In the probable cause affidavit, it is noted Tilley is reported to have told family members if approached by law enforcement officers, he would shoot them. The investigators said Shepherd’s alleged actions, “not only caused a delay in Tilley’s apprehension,” but placed officers’ lives in danger.
Shepherd also has an active criminal case filed in January in which he is charged with taking two vehicles belonging to the mother of his girlfriend.
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