SEN. HUTCHISON CLAIMS STATE LAWS DO NOT APPLY TO HIS PROPOSED PRIVATE CLUB

In an interview that aired Thursday on two local TV stations, Arkansas state senator Jeremy Hutchinson claims that his proposed private club can operate within 1000 feet of a schoolhouse or church. Hutchinson claims that the 1000 foot rule as stated in Arkansas Code Annotated § 3-4-206 "only applies to retail liquor stores".  Hutchinson went on  to say that "we could open a restaurant here today and serve alcohol."  Hutchinson also stated "we're actually making it less aalcoholic by having a club with limited membership and the ability to control the behavior of the club's members".  We are guessing cousin Asa III won't be invited to join.

Never mind that in order to open the private club he first needs approval from the Little Rock Board of Directors and then approval of his permit application from the ABC. He would also need approval from the ABC to serve alcoholic beverages even at a restaurant.  No wonder he is being sued for legal malpractice.

CLICK TO WATCH TV NEWS REPORT
 

HUTCHINSON CLAIMS THIS LAW DOES NOT APPLY TO HIM

A.C.A. § 3-4-206 and the ABC Rules & Regulations make it perfectly clear that the 1000 foot rules applies to all permits issued by them.

 

Sen. Hutchinson, who is also an attorney, should be able to understand plain language.  Hutchinson is misusing the definition of "retail" as defined by the ABC.

This is the ABC's definition of "retailer":

As you can see, it is a fairly broad, all encompassing definition.  If controlled beverages are being sold they are being "retailed".  So if any type of permit holder is selling controlled beverages (i.e., beer, wine or distilled spirits) they are by definition a "retailer".

The ABC Rules & Regulations in the chapter that deals with private clubs, does not list that private clubs are exempt from the 1000 foot rule. 

The private club section also points out that a private club in a wet county must have a "retail beer permit" if they are going to sell beer for consumption on the premises ; a "retail wine permit" if they are going to sell wine for consumption on the premises; as well as a "liquor on premises consumption - private club permit". These are necessary to be able to sell alcoholic beverages as well as purchase alcoholic beverages from licensed distributors.

 CLICK TO VIEW ABC RULES & REGULATIONS

If being too close to a church and school doesn't kill this deal, the issue of the applicants "good moral character" that is required by the ABC Rules & Regulations certainly will (Hint-be sure to make plans to attend the hearing before the ABC Board on February 17th and you might hear and see some evidence to support assertions that the applicants lack "good moral character").

There is speculation that if the ABC Board denies Hutchinson a permit, he will seek to dissolve it like he did the Arkansas Board of Private Investigators and Private Security Agencies. 

Here's that story... a private detective was working for Hutchinson's wife (now ex-wife), documenting his adulterous and highly publicized affair during their marriage. Hutchinson, caught in flagrante delicto, made a complaint to the Board of Private Investigators and they rejected his complaint.  So when Uncle Asa got elected, he went after the board with the blessing of his uncle. Goodbye Arkansas Board of Private Investigators and Private Security Agencies.

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Some readers have asked how did the defunct Packet House Grill obtained a permit from the ABC if it is less than 1000 feet from the Episcopal Collegiate School?

Well here's how that happened. Back in May of 2012, Wesley Ellis filed an application with the ABC for a permit to sell alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises for a restaurant.

As part of the application process, the ABC Enforcement section was to go to the proposed location and determine if the location was near a church or school.

An ABC Enforcement agent filed a report that stated the proposed site was over 1000 feet from a nearby school.

At that time the ABC measured the distance from building to building. We accessed a satellite image taken in February 2012, a few months before the ABC Enforcement Agent made his report.  Using the same methodology as the ABC to determine distances, we found that the agent's findings were incorrect as the the actual distance. The distance we found from building to building using the same image that the agent would have used is approximately 562 feet.

 

So with incorrect measurements the Packet House Grill was granted a permit.

Would the ABC have revoked the permit of the mistake was brought to their attention. Probably not.  They don't have to follow the law or their own rules either.

Corruption at its finest.

 

ABC PAYS OUT BIG BUCKS TO AGENTS FORCED TO RESIGN OR RETIRE

 

Tainted ABC Enforcement Director Boyce Hamlet takes a break from playing solitaire to check email

ABC Enforcement agents that were forced to resign or retire (Chandler, Lynch and Kruse) by deplorable Enforcement Director Boyce Hamlet were able to receive payment for unused annual and sick leave. These payout totaled approximately $22,000.00.

When an individual retires from state employment, and according to the Office of Personnel Management the definition of retirement is "an employee's withdrawal from the service of a public employer, with an annuity payable from funds of the employee's retirement system", the state allows for employees to be paid for unused annual, sick and holiday time earned.

An employee that is fired or quits is paid for accrued and unused annual and holiday time, but when an employee quits or gets fired, they are not entitled to payment for accrued and unused sick leave.

Other ABC employees that left the agency also received payouts:

-Former ABC Administration Director and outed Ashley Madison customer, Michael Langley,  who was not re-appointed received a payout in the amount of $11, 380.68.

-Former ABC Enforcement Director Carl Kirkland who retired to make room for unqualified and tainted Boyce Hamlet received a payout in the amount of $8,218.53.  

-Former ABC Deputy Director and admitted lawbreaker, Rick Crisman, received a payout of $ 6, 331.46. Crisman was given a choice to resign or be fired.

-Former ABC Enforcement Agent and currently a Deputy with the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office, Jerrell Smith received a payout (annual leave only) in the amount of $2,893.02. Smith was fired for accepting a tazer, which is a violation of state laws (Good luck with that Ethics Commission complaint Deputy Smith).

Other ABC employee payouts totaled $3,496,98 (Hickman and Endsley). The total amount of all payouts was $53,927.52.

These unplanned payouts were offset by the ABC hiring new less experienced agents, at a much lower starting salary (under $35k a year).

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We were saddened to learn of the passing of former ABC Enforcement Agent Bill Lynch.  Lynch for all practical purposes ran ABC Enforcement prior to the questionable appointment of Boyce Hamlet as director of Enforcement and his forced retirement.  Condolences to Mr. Lynch's family and friends.

HUMP DAY HUMOR

GOVERNOR'S SON ARRESTED FOR THIRD DWI OFFENSE

 

Asa Hutchinson III poses for a photo at Washington County Jail at around 6:45 am Sunday

William Asa Hutchinson III was arrested around 4:00 a.m. Sunday  by the Arkansas State Police ("ASP") in NW Arkansas and was charged with driving while intoxicated, careless driving and implied consent violation charges. 

Asa III was arrested by the ASP after he crashed on the I-49 southbound exit ramp going onto the Fulbright Expressway headed towards Springdale/Fayetteville. 

Asa III claimed he "dozed off" on his way to Rogers.  Troopers were perplexed as he was headed south and Rogers was to the north.  Troopers noticed that Asa III's eyes were bloodshot and his speech was slurred and he was slow to respond to questions. Troopers also noted that there was a strong odor of alcohol in his vehicle.

CLICK FOR KFSM NEWS REPORT 

"X" marks the approximate location where Asa III hit guardrail

The pesky guardrail that got in Asa III's way

 
Unfortunately this is not the first time he has been charged with a DWI offense.  Back in 2001 he pled guilty to a DWI offense in North Little Rock.

On February 11, 2001 at approximately 12:54 a.m., Asa III was pulled over by the ASP for speeding (80 mph in a 60 mph zone). When the trooper was at Asa III's vehicle he immediately smelled alcohol and Asa III seemed "dazed" and "slow" and his eyes were bloodshot.  Asa III was given a field sobriety test, which he failed. Asa III then consented to a breath test and he had a BAC of 0.11%. Asa III told the trooper he had consumed 6 or 7 drinks.

The court records note a previous DWI arrest on September 27, 1996. 

 CLICK TO VIEW THE COURT FILE FROM HIS 2001 DWI ARREST

Asa III was also involved in an accident in Conway   on August 7, 2015 in which the vehicle he was driving  flipped onto its passenger side during a purported accident.  Reports indicate that alcohol was not a factor, but Hutchinson was not given a field sobriety test, nor was he given any type of test to determine blood alcohol content. Perhaps his daddy's political connections to the Sheriff (Andy Shock, who was subsequently appointed to the Parole Board days after the accident. BTW- Shock's income went from around $30k to $80K) and Prosecuting Attorney (Cody Hiland, tainted ABC Enforcement Director Boyce Hamlet's former boss) helped out a bit.

The driver of the truck that Asa III hit had to be med-flighted to Little Rock.

Asa III is an attorney and works for the law firm owned by the brother of ABC Administrative Director Bud Roberts.  Many have speculated that Roberts, a little known divorce attorney that worked out of his cottage home in Benton,  received his appointment as a result of his brother's financial contributions to the Hutchinson gubernatorial campaign and the token employment of Asa III by his brother's law firm.

Asa III apparently has suffered from a drinking problem for quite some time as evidenced by photos from 2010 charity event and the DWI arrest in 2001.

 CHECK OUT THE PHOTOS FOR YOURSELF

 

According to information on the Mothers Against Drunk Driving ("M.A.D.D.") webpage,  about one-third of all drivers arrested or convicted of drunk driving are repeat offenders and drunk driving costs each adult in the United States almost $800.00 per year!

Perhaps M.A.D.D. and the ABC can team up and use Asa III in a campaign to combat drunk driving.

RECORDS REFLECT YET ANOTHER VEHICLE BREAK-IN AT BOYCE HAMLET'S HOME

A tip from a blog follower has revealed that tainted ABC Enforcement Director and admitted liar, Boyce Hamlet had yet another vehicle broken into at his Conway residence.

In previous posts (here and here), we related that Hamlet has a habit of being careless with weapons by leaving them in vehicles parked in his driveway. With all the crime that occurs in his neighborhood why would he not park vehicles in his garage or at least make sure weapons are secured and safe?

In another post we related how Hamlet likes to find fault with a former employer, the Arkansas Department of Community Correction ("DCC"). This is one of the many law enforcement agencies in Arkansas and Mississippi which Hamlet hid his hiring and firing from the Arkansas State Police ("ASP").  As we and Judge Mackie Pierce have pointed out, had Hamlet been truthful and honest and disclosed to these law enforcement agencies that he had been fired by the ASP and the reason for which he was fired, he most likely would never have been hired to any job in law enforcement and would certainly not been appointed to his present position.

Perhaps Hamlet himself is a cause of the probation/parole "crisis" he still likes to lookup and post on facebook about. Having a probation officer that cheated, lied and made false swearing on documents is not the kind of person DCC or any other law enforcement agency wants as an employee much less head up a law enforcement agency. And leaving weapons, unsecured, in the reach of individuals that might be on parole or probation is certainly a problem.

Like us, many reasonable individuals cannot understand why Gov. Hutchinson has not removed Hamlet from his position at the ABC.  Perhaps he feels sorry for Hamlet (who has a psychological condition/learning disability). Asa once represented a crooked county judge and got him off with an unusual defense tactic of "illiteracy". Maybe Asa has a fetish for worthless, dishonest, damaged individuals.

TAKE A LOOK AT THE CASE

Or perhaps Hamlet has something on the governor that he used to get the position and hold onto it.

We might have the answer before too long as we understand some legal action is on the horizon that might shed some light on Hamlet's questionable  appointment or end it.

HUTCHINSON'S PROPOSED CLUB TOO CLOSE TO SCHOOL/CHURCH FOR ABC TO ISSUE PERMIT

The private club that State Senator Jeremy Hutchinson wants to open and obtain a private club permit from the ABC to serve alcoholic beverages is within 1000 feet of the Episcopal Collegiate School and their on campus chapel.

Arkansas Code Annotated § 3-4-206 prohibits the issuance of a permit within 1000 feet of a church or schoolhouse property line.

Utilizing the same tool that the ABC uses to measure distances, Google Earth, one can clearly see that the old Packet House Grill is less than 500 feet from the property line of the church affiliated school.

The church affiliated school has a chapel on campus which holds daily religious services which is sufficient to consider it as a church as defined in A.C.A. § 3-4-206.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out.  Especially in light of State Representative Julie Mayberry taking on the ABC over permits being issued near daycare centers and the recent announcement that she and other legislators intend to take care of the problem in the next legislative session. 

CLICK TO READ NEWSPAPER ARTICLE 

**UPDATE** According to emails we received from members of the Little Rock Board of Directors, Hutchinson and the 1836 gang might be in for a fight when his rezoning request goes before the board in February. 

HUMP DAY HUMOR

ABC EXPECTED TO RUBBER STAMP APPLICATION OF THE GOVERNOR'S NEPHEW EVEN WITH BOGUS MEMBERSHIP LIST

JEREMY HUTCHINSON 

State Senator Jeremy Hutchinson (R) self-proclaimed coward, adulterer and nephew of Gov. Asa Hutchinson wants to open an exclusive members only club at the site of the old Packet House Grill.

THE PACKET HOUSE GRILL. VACANT SINCE MARCH 2014, WAS MOST RECENTLY USED TO FILM A SCENE IN THE UPCOMING MOVIE GOD'S NOT DEAD 2 FEATURING THE LATE FRED THOMPSON.

Hutchinson and two investment bankers, Mark Camp and Rod Damon plant to open a "private supper club", to be named the 1836 Club (the year Arkansas became a state).  The club will operate as an exclusive members only establishment, including a restaurant and a second-floor humidor room for cigar smoking. God only knows what will take place on the third floor in the private "offices".   The club membership would be limited to 300, with a $250 a month membership fee for individuals and $1,000 for companies.  Incoming members would have to be nominated and approved. At this time the club has approximately 132 members and they all appear to be white.

CLICK TO VIEW THE MEMBERSHIP ROSTER

CLICK TO VIEW THE PERMIT APPLICATION

CLICK TO VIEW FILING WITH ARK SECRETARY OF STATE 

The Little Rock Planning Commission approved a rezoning request (disregarding objections of next door neighbor Dillard's)  and approval is need from the the Little Rock Board of Directors and the ABC.

 CLICK FOR PLANNING COMMISSION FILE

One wonders how such an establishment would "promote public convenience and advantage" (as required for approval by ABC Rules and Regulations Section 1.33 (5), when access to the establishment would be limited to only 300 individuals, and not the public in general.

Hutchinson was the subject of an Ethics Commission Complaint (self-reported by Hutchinson to avoid criminal charges - this guy is incredible) were he was found to have violated Arkansas laws in taking campaign funds as personal income.

CLICK TO READ AN ARKANSAS TIMES STORY ABOUT THE ETHICS ISSUE

According to information in another Arkansas Times story Hutchinson has contacted Graham Sloan, director of the Ethics Commission to attempt to avoid further problems with the Ethics Commission as he wants to used his club to entertain state officials and legislators.

As the Arkansas Times article points out:

"Hutchinson was ready for my question about the nexus of politics and entertainment, with the Capitol dome visible from the restaurant. He's been talking to Graham Sloan, director of the state Ethics Commission, about the knotty issue of entertaining legislators. Actually, it's not so knotty. They can't be wined and dine by lobbyists. The larger question is whether they can pay their own tabs as a guest without still being seen as having been conferred a benefit of admission to a private club. That could mean an additional charge. The matter is up in the air for now."

Hutchinson plans on making the club a shrine to the carpetbaggers  that built the Packet House and settled in that part of Little Rock. That alone is reason enough to make this a terrible idea.

Plainly speaking, Hutchinson wants to open a highly selective, white members only private club where he, special interests groups and lobbyist's can wine, dine and "entertain" state officials and legislators outside the public's watchful eye.  Bad idea, illegal idea.

We provided the permit application to the Arkansas Times and they published a story about the list.  One of the individuals whose name appeared on the list as a member contacted the Arkansas Times and said that she had no knowledge of the club.  If they provided a bogus membership list to the ABC, what other false and misleading information did they provide? Hutchinson contacted the Arkansas Times that it was a "potential" membership list. Look at the forms for yourself, the words "MEMBERSHIP LIST" not "POTENTIAL MEMBERSHIP LIST" appear at the top of each page.

Why would Hutchinson include a bogus membership list (the ABC Rules & Regulations don't require one)? To give the false appearance that there is an interest by the public for such a club and that the directors of the club received applications from these individuals and voted to let them in the club.  Public interest and convenience is the main consideration for approval of an ABC permit, even if the ABC or no state law defines what that is. Can you say arbitrary and capricious?

Interesting side notes: Damon is married to the ex-wife of Camp.  Maybe this site will be the new home for the infamous "toga parties" for Central Arkansas socialites that used to take place in area hotels until stopped by then Sheriff Tommy Robinson. 

Hutchinson, Damon and Camp all have a history of not paying taxes which is documented by the filing of liens by the Department of Finance and Administration with the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk. Hutchinson even had his law license suspended in 2013 for non-payment of fees. Non-payment of fees and taxes can cause an ABC alcohol permit to be pulled.  Good luck with that.

According the the published Rules and Regulations of the ABC, Section 1.20 (5)(A), states that applicants must be of "good moral character".  No one would argue that adultery, cowardice and failure to pay taxes are qualities that comprise "good moral character". 

In Subtitle G of the ABC Rules and Regulations it clearly states that a permit can be denied or revoked if an applicant failed to pay taxes when due (an indicator of future behavior - once a deadbeat, always a deadbeat), gives false information or statements (bogus membership list) and fails to possess qualifications required  ("good moral character").

The ABC Board has previously denied and even pulled permits issued by the ABC when they found fraudulent information was provided in an application.  Will they deny this one or pull it if it has been approved? Extremely doubtful as all the board members serve at the leisure of the applicant's uncle.


We know that the ABC will not dare to conduct any sort of "compliance activity" at this upper echelon establishment as the political consequences are far too great. Besides, both ABC Administration director Bud Roberts and tainted ABC Enforcement director Boyce Hamlet will no doubt receive special treatment when they are enjoying themselves at the club with other members of the good ol' boys club.

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Interesting tidbits:

Hutchinson also hold the dubious honor of being the only person in Arkansas to ever been the victim of domestic abuse via a stuffed alligator head.

Hutchinson will be in court in Pulaski County tomorrow to defend himself against a one million dollar lawsuit filed against him that deals with breach of contract and legal malpractice. Camp's son was initially his attorney until he became a public defender in Saline County.

CLICK TO VIEW COMPLAINT 

Hutchinson is one of the attorneys in a lawsuit against the ABC.
CV-15-619 - SARAH C GILDEHAUS V ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL BD

 Hutchinson was sued in February 2015 for not paying for a vehicle.

Hutchinson represented Camp in a case where he owed Citibank over $10,000.00 for a credit card debt.

ABC DIRECTOR'S BADGE SOLD ON EBAY BY A FORMER HUTCHINSON EMPLOYEE

Back in April 2015 we posted about an ABC Directors Badge being for sale.

CLICK TO VIEW LISTING ON EBAY

Information was recently passed on to us that the badge was sold via eBay around March 19, 2015 for $175.00 by an individual using the pseudonym cloakedvessel.

We have attempted to contact cloakedvessel to find out how they came into possession of the badge to no avail. However, we believe we may have discovered who cloakedvessel is... Catherine Johnson. 

Based on a research we believe that cloakedvessel  rather, Ms. Johnson, is in fact the wife of Mark Johnson (son of infamous  "Justice Jim" Johnson,  a well known segregationist and all round despicable individual). 

FORMER ARKANSAS SUPREME COURT JUSTICE JIM JOHNSON

"Justice Jim" committed suicide (literally) back in 2010. Perhaps the badge had been a possession of his and that is how she came to sell it.

Ms. Johnson (a Republican) was appointed by Gov. Mike Beebe to the Arkansas Ethics Commission back in 2007.  Ms. Johnson was chairman of the commission when her term ended on December 31, 2011. Under state law, Beebe had to appoint someone who voted in the Republican Party's primary election in the last two primaries (which she did). 

Ms. Johnson was involved in a little controversy over her being fired as the executive director of the now defunct Little Rock Aerospace Education Center back in 1995. She was represented by attorney Chip Welch (now Judge Welch- who even back them had a hard time keeping the facts straight), in her failed attempt to regain her job at the Center.

Ms. Johnson has a connection to Gov. Asa Hutchinson as she was hired by Hutchinson to be his finance director in his failed 1986 senatorial campaign against Dale Bumpers.

It seems that Gov. Hutchinson's appointment of tainted ABC Enforcement Director Boyce Hamlet was not his first lack of judgement in filling positions.



 

HUMP DAY HUMOR

ABC USES ABC FICTITIOUS TAGS TO HIDE FACT THAT VEHICLES ARE STATE VEHICLES

TAGS ON ABC VEHICLES DO NOT HAVE "PUBLIC PROPERTY" ON THEM

Vehicles assigned to ABC Enforcement agents have what their own internal documents refer to as "fictitious" tags on them to mask the fact that the vehicle is a state owned vehicle.  This is in spite of the vehicles having numerous antennas on them and looking like a cop car.

Why would the ABC need to do this?  ABC Enforcement agents spend most of their time involved in what most reasonable people would not consider typical law enforcement activity.  Most of the day-to-day activity of these agents is dealing with regulatory or compliance work.  They check to see if  outlets have their current permit displayed correctly; is the required human trafficking poster is displayed; does they outlet have "forbidden" items (i.e., prohibited drug paraphernalia or a poker machine); re-evaluations of a site or site inspections' they act as couriers for the ABC to deliver or pick up documents.

These agent meet applicants at a proposed site and one would expect that they drive right up to the site instead of parking their "secret" vehicle at safe distance to avoid letting the secret out as to what vehicle they drive and then walk to the location. 

When they are conducting "compliance checks" or what most reasonable individuals would consider entrapment activity (cooperating minors trying to purchase booze) they park a safe distance away from the outlet and remain in the vehicle while the hired kid goes inside and tries to by some beer.

If they want stealth vehicles, we suggest they get rid of the array of antennas and trade in the Impalas' and Charger's for some Accord's and Camry's.

ABC'S QUESTIONABLE USE OF FEDERAL EQUITABLE FUNDS

Shortly after tainted ABC Enforcement Boyce Hamlet was appointed to his position, he tapped his former boss, Cody Hiland, the Prosecuting Attorney for the 20th Judicial District, for close to $12,000.00 to purchase bullet resistant vests for ABC Enforcement Agents.  Hamlet could have used the funds for more appropriate equipment or items such as tablets and software that the agents could use every day to assist them in their job performance.

HILAND, HAMLET'S FORMER EMPLOYER

Perhaps Hamlet's self-proclaimed psychological condition/learning disability (Dyscalculia) explains his lack of understanding regarding the funds that are available to the ABC.

FUNDS HELD BY THE ABC AT THE START OF THE 2016 FISCAL YEAR

In a previous stories (Post 1, Post 2) we detailed how lacking the ABC is in modern technology.  According to sources inside the ABC, prior to Hamlet's appointment, agents were told that iPads were going to be purchased, using the Alcoholic Beverage Control Fund that would greatly improve their day-to-day work flow. Then there was a change in leadership and the agents were told to forget about the iPads. 

Instead of using public funds for useful items that could actually assist agents in the performance of their duties and the the public in turn, Hamlet thought the agents could use bullet resistant vests more than iPads.

Although ABC Enforcement Agents are certified law enforcement officers, their role is actually as a compliance officer rather than an actual police officer. These agents do not routinely knock down doors to capture suspected bootleggers, or routinely get into scuffles, dangerous situations or ever have to draw their weapon. Probably the most hazardous situation these agents are placed in is when they have to go collect funds for a returned check.

We could find only find one incident, back in February 1976, where an ABC Enforcement Officer (Billy Joe Holder) was injured or killed in connection with their position as an ABC Enforcement Agent.  The agent was killed as he sat in a chair at his home by a blast from a shotgun fired through the window.  

EXCERPT FROM AN ARTICLE BY TOM GLAZE IN A 2011 EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS TIMES

Robert Baysinger of Marshall, AR was charged and found guilty, but the conviction was overturned by the Arkansas Supreme Court and upon retrial he was acquitted.  No one has ever been punished for Holder's murder. 

CLICK TO VIEW ARTICLE ABOUT BAYSINGER AND A BEAR CUB

This case has a connection to Asa Hutchinson as he was the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas at the time and successfully charged one of the suspects, Sheriff Herbert Loren Reeves (a political rival of Holder's) with possession of drugs (reefer) with intent to deliver. Reeves was convicted for the drug offense (along with one of his deputies) and spent several years in prison.

In fact, it could be argued that if bullet resistant vests were actually needed, it would be for the cooperating minors that go into stores, bars and clubs to try and purchase alcoholic beverage while the ABC enforcement agent safely waits outside sitting in his or her vehicle.

According to Brian Boykin, the Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section Equitable Sharing Program Manager for the U.S. Department of Justice, the ABC as a member agency of the Equitable Sharing Program can receive funds from any other member agency to use to purchase equipment, like iPads and software, for law enforcement purposes.

CLICK TO VIEWS ARKANSAS AGENCIES THAT THE ABC COULD TAP FOR FUNDS

USDOJ SHARED FUND USE POLICY

Once again, tainted ABC Director Boyce Hamlet has failed to keep his promise for the ABC under his leadership to be "good stewards of the tax payer dollar".

Available funds like these could be used by the ABC to purchase iPads for agents and have software developed that could be used to avoid embarrassing situations like we reported in this story.