Case 2020-0225

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

1. Full case file(s)

2. All versions of incident report - including any notes by Detective Cham Buchanan that were entered into incident report but not saved and/or any notes/messages to Sharp County Sheriff’s Department from her regarding what needed to be entered into incident report to update it to the point she stopped working on case

3. Video of Byron Rayburn interview by investigators Cham Buchanan and Cody Bailey (June 10, 2021)

4. Video of Robert Arnold interview by investigator Cham Buchanan (on/around December 2, 2021)

5. Video/notes from Gene Wade’s interview by Harrisonville, Missouri law enforcement (on/around December 8, 2021)

6. Any agreement between Cham Buchanan, Arkansas State Police, and Sharp County Sheriff’s Department regarding Cham Buchanan continuing to investigate case once she commenced employment with Arkansas State Police

7. Any communication to/from Cham Buchanan with anyone from AR State Police and/or Sharp County Sheriff’s Department regarding halting investigative work on case

8. For the last 30 years, how many complaints/reports of sexual violence (any level; against any age victim or perpetrator) were made to the Sharp County Sheriff’s Department?
a. How many investigations were opened?
b. How many investigations were concluded?
c. How many cases had charges filed against the perpetrator (what charges/how many)?
d. How many cases resulted in convictions (what charges/how many)?
e. How many cases resulted in time served (how long)?
f. How many cases resulted in perpetrators being listed as registered sex offender?
g. How many investigative files - of those opened - are now closed files?
h. How many investigations resulting in convictions had prior reports that went uninvestigated or had incomplete investigations (e.g. Jack Huffmaster)?

9. For last 30 years, how many hotline reports did the Sharp County Sheriff’s Department receive from the state hotline? How many of those were “screened out.”
a. How many of those reports had subsequent reports against the same perpetrator? How many of the subsequent reports were “screened out?”

10. With respect to the "Message from Sheriff Russell" on the Sharp County Sheriff's Department website, the message references "closed 40 sexual assault cases."
a. How many of those cases were more than three years old?
b. How many of those cases resulted in charges?

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 3 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Sonny Albarado, a citizen of Arkansas, in coordination with Joslyn Smith.