FORT SMITH, Ark. — A man who was arrested by police on April 26 before he reportedly planned to kill two people at Central Mall in Fort Smith pleaded guilty in court on June 27.
Rodney Sheffield pleaded guilty to receiving child sexual abuse material and threatening a judge, according to court documents.
Authorities said a 911 caller reported that Sheffield was on his way to Central Mall "with the intent to kill people" on Friday, April 26.
After the call was made, Sheffield was arrested during a traffic stop after police said he was driving recklessly on Rogers Avenue. During the stop, the officer saw a rifle on the floor of the passenger side of Sheffield's vehicle and after a pat down, found magazines to the rifle in Sheffield's pockets. Sheffield was arrested for reckless driving and terroristic threatening.
During the investigation, the 911 caller was identified as a friend of Sheffield's who said he received a text from Sheffield that said "Here we go" with a picture of Sheffield holding a rifle across his body outside the mall, which prompted him to call 911, court documents say.
Aric Mitchell with the Fort Smith Police Department (FSPD) expressed the importance of the tip that led to Sheffield's arrest.
"It's just a reminder that if you see something, say something," Mitchell said. "Don't think that it's an inconvenience to your law enforcement agency to share information like this because it can potentially prevent a tragedy."
According to investigators, Sheffield was upset about his Social Security disabilities claim being denied and had plans to shoot and kill an employee at his lawyer's firm, which was located in the mall near the Social Security disabilities office. Sheffield also said he wanted to shoot the judge involved with the claim, investigators said.
While executing a search warrant on Sheffield's phone, detectives reportedly found evidence of child sex abuse material, including four videos and 127 photos of young children being sexually abused. Charges related to those findings were added.
Sheffield's lawyer Adam Rose states he has "no doubt justice will prevail at the conclusion of this matter."
Prosecutors originally brought the following charges against Sheffield after his arrest:
State Charges:
- 4 Counts: Pandering or Posessing Visual or Print Medium Depicting Sexually Explicit Conduct Involving a Child
- (three counts labeled as Class B Felony, one count labeled as Class C Felony)
- Attempted Terroristic Act, Class C Misdemeanor
- Second Degree Criminal Mischief, Class A Misdemeanor
- Reckless Driving, Class B Misdemeanor
However, Arkansas prosecutors filed a motion on June 11 to not pursue state charges.
Federal Charges:
- Influencing, Impeding, or Retaliating Against a Federal Official
- Receiving Child Sexual Abuse Material
- Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material
According to court documents, Sheffield posted a $200,000 bond for the state charges on May 10, was detained on the federal charges afterward, and was transferred to the Washington County Jail.
Sheffield's lawyers filed a notice of intent to rely on a defense of mental disease or defect.
On June 27 the charge of possession of child sexual abuse material was dropped on the condition that Sheffield plead guilty to threatening a federal official and receiving child sex abuse material.
Sheffield reportedly accepted that plea deal, and now faces the following charges:
- Receiving Child Sex Abuse Material:
- maximum of 20 years
- Threatening a Federal Official:
- maximum of 10 years, minimum of 5
5NEWS will update this article as the story develops.
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