Photo: Heather Johnson Beustring Lewis
Since 2013, a Mountain Home woman has been in and out of trouble with the law, spending time in both the Baxter County jail and the state prison system.
Through the years, the charges filed against 34-year-old Heather Johnson Beustring Lewis have included drug-related offenses, forgery, being a felon in possession of a firearm and theft.
On Monday, she was back in Baxter County Circuit Court by way of a video hookup to enter guilty pleas in four active criminal cases.
She was sentenced by Circuit Judge Gordon Webb to 10 years in prison, with four suspended and six to serve. In addition, Lewis was ordered to pay restitution of slightly more than $4,200. During her appearance Monday, she pled guilty to charges, including possessing drugs and drug paraphernalia, being a felony in possession of a firearm, theft of property and commercial burglary.
In April, she is alleged to have put merchandise in her cart at Walmart, taking the item directly to the customer service desk, where she was given a refund, according to the probable cause affidavit.
Lewis had been trespassed from the store five times since 2009, according to court records.
In 2014, Lewis washed out of the 14th Judicial District Drug Court Program, after testing positive for drugs three times. She was sent to prison for 10 years, at that point.
In early June last year, Lewis was caught with Stephan Whaples, who was on parole and listed as an absconder at the time.
The arrest came when a fugitive task force descended on an address along Wild Fern Lane looking for fugitive James Loosey.
They reported seeing Whaples and Lewis fleeing on an ATV. Lewis either got off or was shoved off the ATV, and Whaples continued his escape alone. Whaples was picked up two days later.
According to the probable cause affidavit, the people found at the home, including Lewis, had all been convicted of multiple felonies.
Loosey was not at home at the time of the raid and is currently listed as being on the run.
Lewis was also arrested and charged for different incidents in January and February.
According to the probable cause affidavit related to the January incident, Lewis and her husband, William “Billy” Lewis Jr., were allegedly involved in stealing three catalytic converters from vehicles parked at her father’s residence along County Road 69. In addition, a diamond ring and other items were reported taken from the home.
On Feb. 2, Heather Lewis was arrested for possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, after being stopped by a Mountain Home Police officer for a traffic infraction.
The officer reported he was on routine patrol, when he saw a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed.
The driver, later identified as Heather Lewis, refused to stop. She turned into a residence and remained inside. The officer ran a check of the license plate and found it belonged to Heather Lewis.
The officer made contact with her and reported her eyes were bloodshot, watery, and glassy and her pupils were dilated.
The officer reported Heather Lewis became argumentative. She said she had only stopped at the house to pick up a girlfriend, but was unable to tell the officer who lived in the residence.
Heather Lewis finally admitted that, if tested, she would show a positive result for methamphetamine codeine and Xanax. She was also found to have a bag containing pills and pot.
Her husband is housed in the Omega Technical Violator Center in Malvern for violating parole. The center is operated by the Arkansas Department of Correction.
He has three active criminal cases. His charges include stealing trucks, ATVs and, with his wife, the catalytic converters from vehicles owned by her parents.
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