Three members of one family were in Baxter County Circuit Court on January 23 to face charges they picked up individually or as a group.
Earlier this month, 21-year-old David Zack Peifer of Mountain Home pled guilty to charges in three existing Baxter County criminal cases and was sentenced to six years in prison and ordered to pay $2,400 in restitution.
He was back in court January 23 facing new charges filed even before he could be transported to prison to begin serving the six-year sentence.
Other family members in court Monday included his 61-year-old grandmother, Mary Victoria Ward of Mountain Home, and older brother, 23-year-old Hunter “Ty” Peifer, both pled guilty to charges against them stemming from their involvement in a September 2021 plan to smuggle prohibited items into the Baxter County jail.
The smuggled items were reported to be for the use of Hunter “Ty” Peifer, who was locked up at the time.
Ward was given four years probation for her part in the smuggling operation. She was sentenced under provisions of Act 346, commonly known as the first offenders law.
Hunter “Ty” Peifer, pled guilty and was sentenced to three years in prison. He is already in the Grimes Unit of the state prison system on earlier charges.
David Peifer pled guilty to his charges stemming from the smuggling plot during his early January court appearance.
NEWEST CHARGE
On Monday, David Peifer pled not guilty to charges in the newest case opened against him stemming from a December 23, 2022 traffic stop.
At the time he was pulled over, he was a fugitive. The Jackson County probation and parole office in Newport had issued a warrant for him in early November.
Court records show he was alleged to have violated the terms and conditions of his parole in Jackson County and had also failed to appear for court sessions.
When Mountain Home police pulled him over, David Peifer was first served the warrants issued by Jackson County and taken to the Baxter County Detention Center.
Meanwhile, a search of the car he had been in turned up a small plastic bag containing a white powdery substance that field-tested positive for cocaine, a digital scale, and a syringe.
David Peifer was ordered to reappear Feb. 6.
The paperwork setting up his newest new case had not been completed at the time David Peifer pled guilty to his earlier Baxter County charges on Jan. 5.
According to court records, David Peifer has an upcoming court date in Jackson County to answer to the violation of the terms and conditions of his parole from that jurisdiction.
In something not often heard in Circuit Court, Hunter “Ty” Peifer, asked the court if he could be placed in the same cell or pod with his younger brother so they could communicate.
He said he was headed back to prison where he has been for two years and his brother was also headed that way — and before going off to serve their sentences, they wanted to have time to visit some.
Circuit Judge John Putman said the request would have to be granted by the Baxter County Sheriffs Office.
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