A 58-year-old Baxter County man with a lengthy criminal history was sentenced to five years in prison on Monday after pleading guilty to multiple drug-related charges in Baxter County Circuit Court.
According to court documents, Tommy Raymond Hitt was charged in three separate cases, including one in which law enforcement discovered methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia during a compliance check at a residence on State Highway 5 North. Officers with Arkansas Community Correction had been tipped off that Hitt, who was on parole at the time, was staying at the residence with 42-year-old Angelina Dawn Minga.
When officers arrived, Minga initially answered the door, informing officers that Hitt was in the shower. He came outside shortly after, and officers conducted a search of the small trailer where the pair had been staying. During the search, authorities reportedly uncovered methamphetamine, paraphernalia used to ingest the drug, and two sets of brass knuckles.
Hitt and Minga both denied knowledge of the illegal items, but during an interview at the Baxter County Detention Center, officers say Hitt shifted blame to Minga, claiming the drugs belonged to her. Minga, in turn, denied the accusation. The inconsistencies led officers to defer ownership of the items to a judge for determination. The situation reportedly escalated with Hitt shouting and later expressing hostility toward an investigator.
Another case against Hitt stemmed from a traffic stop in November 2024, when a Baxter County Sheriff's deputy pulled him over on State Highway 5 South for speeding. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a hidden compartment containing methamphetamine and syringes. Hitt was later released after posting a $5,000 bond through Triple R Bail Bonds.
In yet another case, Hitt faced charges related to the alleged sale of 6.6 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant working with the 14th Judicial Drug Task Force in 2025. Officials say the informant was equipped with electronic monitoring equipment during the controlled buy.
Hitt’s criminal record reveals a series of felony charges over the years, many of them drug-related. Arrest and case records date back to at least 2016 in Baxter County, with additional charges logged in 2017, 2018, 2020, 2024, and 2025. Authorities say his parole has been officially revoked as a result of his most recent arrests.
Several other individuals connected to Hitt’s cases have also faced their own felony charges, according to arrest reports.