The first jury impaneled in the new Hempstead County Courthouse resulted in a 50-year sentence for a 49-year Hope man. The jury gave Reginald Featherston 40 years in the Arkansas Division of Correction for possession of greater than 10 grams of methamphetamine with purpose to deliver and enhanced that sentence by 10 years because the crime was committed in close proximity to a multi-family public housing facility. The jury also gave him 15 years in ADC for possession of drug paraphernalia.

The case was presided over by Hempstead County Circuit Judge Joe C. Short who ruled that the sentences for the methamphetamine and paraphernalia charges will run concurrently and that the 10-year enhancement will run consecutively.

The investigation was conducted by Sergeants Gary Dorman and Justin Crane of the Hempstead County Sheriff's Office, who are assigned to the 8th North Drug Task Force. They were assisted by Hope Police Department Corporal Justin Dean and his canine partner.

During the investigation, the agents located 88 tablets of what appeared to have been ecstasy. After receiving the analysis of the tablets by the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory, the tablets were determined to have contained methamphetamine. The agents also located drug paraphernalia on Featherstons person and in the vehicle, he was operating.

The case was tried by Eighth North Judicial District Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Ben Hale.