Felon from Fort Smith has avoided prison despite numerous interactions with law enforcement officials

A 34-year-old Fort Smith resident, Jesse Jay Barroso, was arrested and released in less than eight hours on April 26, 2025, marking his latest encounter with the local judicial system. Barroso, who has faced three felony-related charges over the past three years, often tied to probation violations, continues to cycle through arrests, raising questions about recidivism and court processes in Sebastian County.

According to records from the Fort Smith Police Department, Barroso was booked at 2:22 p.m. on April 26, 2025, on misdemeanor charges of Criminal Trespass and Obstructing Governmental Operations.

 He was released by 10:08 p.m. the same day after posting signature bonds totaling $450. The swift release aligns with Arkansas’s handling of non-violent misdemeanors, which often involve minimal detention times and signature bonds requiring no upfront payment.

Barroso’s legal troubles began in January 2023, when he was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance (Schedule I/II, 2-28g) and misdemeanor drug and obstruction charges.

He received a Suspended Imposition of Sentence (SIS), avoiding jail time but placing him on probation. However, court documents reveal multiple probation violations, leading to petitions to revoke his felony probation in September 2023 and November 2024, with bench warrants issued for failure to comply with court obligations, including missed appearances.

The Sebastian County Circuit Court case 66FCR-23-1, filed in January 2023, details Barroso’s ongoing struggles. After his initial plea agreement, revocation hearings were scheduled repeatedly, with continuances delaying resolution.

A December 2023 arrest for another petition to revoke resulted in a 13-day detention, while an April 3, 2025, arrest for a similar charge saw him released in under 10 hours on a $2,500 signature bond.

His latest April 26 arrest, though unrelated to felony charges, underscores a pattern of frequent law enforcement encounters.

 Barroso’s recurring arrests, particularly tied to probation violations, highlight challenges in addressing recidivism. Court records suggest substance-related issues, stemming from his 2023 drug charges, may contribute to his legal troubles.

The 12th Judicial Circuit, under Judge Tabor, has appointed public defenders, including Chandra Lynn Horton and Elizabeth Joyce Armstrong, to represent Barroso, who has filed affidavits of indigency.

Barroso is scheduled to appear in Fort Smith City Court on April 29, 2025, for his latest misdemeanor charges, with a felony revocation hearing set for May 15, 2025, in Circuit Court.

Failure to appear or comply with probation terms should lead to further consequences, including potential incarceration.