Benton County Judge Candidate Released from Jail

Austin McCollum, a former Arkansas state representative and current candidate for Benton County judge, has been released from the Benton County Detention Center after posting bond. McCollum, 35, is currently facing multiple criminal charges stemming from two separate legal cases.

The legal issues began on August 1, when McCollum was arrested on charges of domestic battery, false imprisonment, and aggravated assault involving a family member. Court affidavits allege that during an argument, McCollum physically assaulted his wife. He has pleaded not guilty to these allegations. Following the incident, his wife filed for divorce and was granted a court-ordered protection order prohibiting him from visiting her home, workplace, church, or the children's school.

McCollum was arrested a second time in late September for first-degree stalking and violating the protection order. Investigators claim that McCollum appeared at his children's school and daycare on multiple occasions, including an instance where surveillance video allegedly showed him entering a school while his wife was still inside. While McCollum denied some of these claims and cited an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting as his reason for being near the daycare, prosecutors maintained that he violated the court's orders.

During a court hearing on October 5, Judge Brad Karren denied a request from the defense to reduce McCollum's bond. Instead, the judge increased the bond for the aggravated assault case from $10,000 to $75,000. As a condition of his release, McCollum is now required to wear an ankle monitor.

Because he is the only candidate in the race for Benton County judge, McCollum remains eligible to take office if elected. He is scheduled for further court appearances on November 2 regarding the stalking charges and December 1 for the assault case.

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