A former nurse at the Baxter County Detention Center accused of inappropriate sexual contact with female inmates pleaded guilty to reduced charges Monday in Baxter County Circuit Court.
Samuel Sparks, 42, originally faced three counts of sexual assault but accepted a plea deal, admitting guilt to three counts of third-degree battery. Circuit Judge Andrew Bailey sentenced Sparks to 12 months of probation, and his nursing license in Arkansas has been permanently revoked.
Prosecuting Attorney David Ethredge explained the decision to reduce the charges during the court session. Ethredge cited insufficient and inconsistent testimony from witnesses as key factors. “The quality of information coming from witnesses is not sufficient to prove the charges,” Ethredge stated, adding that some witness statements had changed over time.
Ethredge further noted that several inmates who accused Sparks of misconduct have since moved out of state and are unwilling to return to testify. These challenges, combined with repeated delays in the case, ultimately led the state to pursue a plea agreement. “Is this something we wanted? No, it’s not,” Ethredge said, “but the case is likely not winnable given the problems that have come up.”
The case was filed in September 2023 but was delayed 16 times, including one continuance due to inclement weather and another because Sparks changed attorneys. Early on, the state reportedly offered a plea deal, but Sparks declined and later hired new legal representation through the James Law Firm in Little Rock.
Sparks worked as a nurse at the detention center from January 2022 until his termination in August 2023. According to the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office, Sparks provided medical care to inmates, dispensed prescribed medications, and coordinated follow-ups with a Nurse Practitioner. However, the investigation began after an August 2023 complaint from a female inmate, who alleged inappropriate sexual contact by Sparks.
Three inmates or former inmates were interviewed in connection to the complaint. Sparks reportedly told investigators that he had conducted breast examinations for inmates at their request as part of his duties, but the examinations were undocumented in medical charts and unauthorized by jail procedures. A Nurse Practitioner affiliated with the jail confirmed that jail nurses are not tasked with conducting such exams.
Sparks voluntarily surrendered his nursing license on grounds of sexual misconduct, according to the Arkansas State Board of Nursing. Following his guilty plea, he will permanently lose the ability to practice as a licensed nurse in the state.