Man arrested for making threats

— Rick Lee Witcher, 53, of Centerton, was arrested Feb. 19 on a Gentry warrant and charged with terroristic threatening, a Class D felony, and harassing communications, a Class A misdemeanor.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, Witcher is accused of making threats by phone and text message to a Gentry woman and the woman’s friend in Oklahoma.

The alleged messages sent by Witcher include threats of violence and murder against the Gentry woman and her family, according to the affidavit.

According to witness statements, the threatening messages have been ongoing for about a year and a half.

Police were able to obtain copies of numerous text and voice messages in which Witcher is alleged to have threatened to shoot, kill and beat up a Gentry woman and her family, according to the affidavit.

On Friday, Witcher was no longer listed as an inmate in the Benton County Jail.

News, Pages 6 on 02/27/2013