Judge Brad Karren revoked Austin McCollum’s bond Monday after finding he willfully violated the terms of his release by being at the same place as his wife. The new bond is $75,000, and McCollum must meet tighter release terms before leaving Benton County Jail.
McCollum, a former state Rep. and Republican nominee for Benton County judge, had been free on a $10,000 bond after his Aug. 1 arrest. He was later arrested Sept. 29 on suspicion of felony stalking and violation of an order of protection, and Karren’s ruling changed the conditions attached to any future release.
Brad Karren bond ruling
Under the new order, McCollum must pay $150,000 along with 10% of the $75,000 bond to be released from Benton County Jail. Karren also ordered him to wear an ankle monitor and remain 1,500 feet from his wife and her home, workplace and church, along with 350 feet from his children’s daycare.
Joshua Robinson asked for a $350,000 cash only bond and an ankle monitor. He told the court, “I’m deeply concerned about Mrs. McCollum’s safety,” as he pressed for tighter conditions after the earlier release terms failed to keep the couple apart.
Shiloh Christian School visit
The judge heard evidence that during the week of Sept. 20, McCollum was seen at a Shiloh Christian School open house while Ragen McCollum was touring the school from 9-11 a.m. Ragen McCollum told him through his attorney that she would be there, then later saw him at the school and asked school security to escort her to her vehicle after noticing he had parked near it.
McCollum told investigators that he arrived for a tour but left after learning his wife was still taking hers. The motion before Karren said she observed him at the school and near her vehicle, a dispute that went to whether the contact was accidental or a willful breach of the no-contact order.
Wee Friends and Sept. 28
Ragen McCollum also kept her children out of school the following day after the school encounter. Separately, an employee at Wee Friends said McCollum drove through the daycare parking lot around 6 p.m. on Sept. 28, adding another episode prosecutors used to argue that the release terms had not been followed.
Sgt. Ralph Bartley said he became involved after McCollum’s Aug. 1 arrest. With the bond now reset, McCollum stays in jail unless he satisfies the new cash and percentage requirements and the court’s location restrictions.
