Photo: Bridgette Clark
A woman facing a number of charges, including stealing thousands of dollars from a Mountain Home motel she managed for a short time in 2018, appeared in Baxter County Circuit Court Monday.
Forty-five-year-old Bridgette Clark and 38-year-old Luke Daniel Patterson have often been involved in the crimes of the other and in various court papers have been identified as boyfriend/girlfriend.
Photo: Luke Daniel Patterson
On Monday, Clark pled no contest to the charges against her and was sentenced to five years probation.
Patterson and Clark have made it somewhat difficult to keep their various cases on track. They have both disappeared for stretches of time, resulting in failure-to-appear-warrants being issued.
At one point, both Clark and Patterson were extradited from Onslow County, North Carolina and brought back to Baxter County. It is not the first time Patterson has left this area and headed to the east coast where he is reported to have family.
In the newest charges filed against Clark she is accused of stealing from the Super 8 Motel where she worked.
According to the probable cause affidavit in the motel theft case, Clark allegedly used several methods to take money from the business.
She was reported to have rented rooms for cash and pocketed the money. In addition, two occupants said Clark offered them discounts if they paid in cash.
She was also accused of falsifying time sheets of staff members who had not actually worked during the days and times shown.
Clark is alleged to have made the salary checks payable to herself. There were reported to be two signatures on one of the checks — the employee’s and Clark’s.
A motel worker told investigators she had not endorsed the check investigators showed her, and did not receive any proceeds when the check was cashed.
During the time she was managing the motel, Clark and Patterson are reported to have lived there together.
During 2018, the Mountain Home Police Department reported receiving numerous complaints of drug use and illegal activity at the Super 8. MHPD officers had made several arrests of people entering and leaving the property.
On Sept. 12, 2018 MHPD officers along with officers with the Department of Community Correction went to the motel to conduct a number of compliance visits. According to court records, multiple parolees and probationers list the motel as their place of residence. Both Clark and Patterson were themselves reported to be under the supervision of an Arkansas Community Correction officer — meaning they were on probation or parole – while living at the motel.
Officers first encountered Clark. She was asked where Patterson could be located. Clark was reported to have led officers along a round-about-route, finally ending up at an upstairs bedroom.
The officers said Clark “attempted to warn Patterson before opening the door that law enforcement was present.”
When the door was opened, Patterson tried to hide. He was located and arrested. Officers found drug paraphernalia and a syringe containing a clear liquid thrown behind a refrigerator.
In her purse at the front desk, Clark was found to have an unknown substance believed to be Fentanyl and a small bag containing six pills identified as Oxycodone.
Patterson has spent time in prison and is currently shown as being on parole. He is being supervised out of the Conway office of Arkansas Community Corrections.
All of his criminal cases in Baxter County show they have been adjudicated.
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