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Sheriff Tom Hughes Assumes Role as Johnson County Sheriff

JOHNSON COUNTY, ARKANSAS, Ark. — Johnson County, Arkansas, welcomes Sheriff Tom Hughes as their new sheriff following the arrest and resignation of former sheriff James “Jimmy” Stephens. With decades of law enforcement experience, Sheriff Hughes is determined to restore trust and bring positive changes to the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office.

Formerly enjoying retirement in Ozone, Sheriff Tom Hughes decided to answer the call to serve again. On November 18th, he was sworn in as the Johnson County Sheriff, ready to make a difference in the community.

Reflecting on his decision, Sheriff Hughes stated, “I decided that rather than being a person that just talks about the problem, I would go in and be part of the solution. Some people suggested that they needed somebody from outside Johnson County, an outsider to the way things worked here.”

Before becoming the sheriff, Tom Hughes served 23 years in the army reserves, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. He also spent 25 years in the Fort Worth police department, primarily in a leadership role as a sergeant.

Sheriff Hughes acknowledges that there will be changes ahead, referring to them as growing pains. He plans to evaluate and improve the training of his deputies, recognizing the importance of keeping up with evolving law enforcement practices.

“There may be some things that I need to look at and work our guys on, and we’ll be reaching out to other cities and counties to see if there’s additional training we can pursue,” Sheriff Hughes said.

Another area of focus for Sheriff Hughes is the outdated Johnson County detention center. He believes that the current facilities are insufficient for the growing needs of the county and plans to address this issue by exploring options for expansion.

With a commitment to earning the community’s trust, Sheriff Hughes aims to lead an honest and dedicated team dedicated to serving the residents of Johnson County. He recognizes that his term as sheriff is limited to three years and vows to do his best during this time.

Captain Michael Huber, a member of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office since September 2020, expressed confidence in Sheriff Hughes, stating, “My feeling is that the community has a great sheriff.”

The transition to Sheriff Tom Hughes comes after the arrest of former sheriff James “Jimmy” Stephens, who pleaded guilty to drug charges and resigned from his position. Stephens was apprehended after a traffic stop on December 3, 2022. The arrest revealed that he had illegal drugs in his patrol vehicle, including oxycodone, hydrocodone, marijuana, and marijuana butter.

Stephens faced legal consequences for his actions, pleading guilty to felony possession of a controlled substance. As part of his sentence, he received six years of probation, a $10,000 fine, and additional fees totaling $590.

The arrest and subsequent resignation of former Sheriff Stephens left a cloud hanging over the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, but the arrival of Sheriff Tom Hughes brings renewed hope and a fresh start for the department. With his extensive experience and dedication to service, Sheriff Hughes is determined to lead the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office into a new era, marked by professionalism, trust, and community-focused law enforcement.

For more information about the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, visit their official website.

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