A Paragould man has been sentenced after pleading guilty to spitting on a police officer during an encounter earlier this year.
Ronald Boene, 23, entered a plea agreement on Monday, Sept. 14, admitting guilt to one count of aggravated assault on a certified law enforcement officer. The charge is a Class D felony.
Second Judicial Circuit Judge Pam Honeycutt sentenced Boene to 48 months of suspended imposition of sentence, with credit for 115 days already served in jail. She also ordered Boene to pay all court costs and fines, to be paid in $50 monthly installments.
Court records show that several other charges, including criminal trespass, obstructing governmental operations, and public intoxication, were dismissed as part of the agreement.
The charges stem from a May 21 incident when Paragould police responded to a report of a man yelling on railroad tracks near the 200 block of Landrun Lane. Officers located Boene slumped over the tracks and noted the smell of intoxicants on him, according to the probable cause affidavit.
Police observed that Boene was unsteady on his feet and refused to provide his name. Officers arrested him for criminal trespass, obstructing governmental operations, and public intoxication. As they placed him in the patrol car, he spat in an officer’s face.
The felony assault charge reflects the serious nature of this action under Arkansas law, which elevates penalties for assaults on certified law enforcement officers.
Boene’s sentence includes no additional jail time beyond the 115 days already served, contingent on following the terms of the suspended imposition of sentence and paying the required costs.