An Arkansas man has been arrested and sentenced to 50 years in prison after pleading guilty to various criminal charges, including escaping from police officers.
Shannon Barnett, 50, pled guilty on Monday, March 3, 2025, to flight, failing to appear, and handgun possession charges, according to Arkansas State Police. Authorities claimed Barnett had a criminal record that included theft, narcotics offenses, and further firearm accusations.
According to ASP, Barnett previously had two major fleeing events during his probationary time. The first occurred on March 15, 2023, when he fled from Saline County Sheriff’s deputies, crashing into a house before fleeing on foot.
The second incident occurred on February 29, 2024, when he fled from deputies. During the pursuit, investigators say Barnett nearly impacted several vehicles and ran a red light before being stopped by an ASP trooper using a tactical vehicle intervention (TVI).
In May 2024, Saline County Judge Josh Farmer found Barnett in violation of his probation. As a result, Barnett was sentenced to 30 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections (DOC), where he is currently housed.
Barnett then struck a plea agreement on March 3, 2025, which added an extra 20 years to his DOC sentence for the new offenses. Authorities stated that Barnett’s two sentences will be served consecutively, totaling 50 years.
“This recent conviction follows closely on the heels of a commitment from state prosecutors to rigorously pursue those who attempt to evade law enforcement,” said Mike Hagar, an ASP officer. “I commend the Saline County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and the Saline County courts for ensuring that Barnett is held responsible for his dangerous and irresponsible conduct.”