JONESBORO — The Craighead County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a Harrisburg lawyer on allegations of involvement in criminal activity, according to a court document filed Thursday by prosecutor Sonia Fonticiella.
He made a motion that a special prosecutor be appointed to handle the case against Jarrett Cobb.
The motion stated: “Jarrett Cobb has been investigated by the Craighead County Sheriff’s Office for the charges consisting of ACA 5-27-602, 5-53-111(B)(1), and 5-18-103( 2)”.
Fonticiella said a special prosecutor is needed because “the aforementioned Prosecutor, as well as the Assistant Prosecutors of the 2nd Judicial District, have a specific and unavoidable conflict in this case.”
“Specifically, Mr. Cobb is an attorney who practices law in the 2nd Judicial District and has a relationship with most of the deputies in this district. Furthermore, one of the deputy prosecutors is a factual witness to the accusations,” Fonticiella wrote in her request.
Lake City attorney Zach Morrison, who is representing Cobb, said in a statement Friday: “Other than denying any criminal liability in this matter, I have no further comment on behalf of Mr. Cobb at this time.”
So far, Cobb has not been charged with any crime.
The sheriff’s office has been investigating the allegations, Deputy Sheriff Justin Rolland said Friday.
The investigation has been ongoing since Nov. 1, Rolland said. The report will be delivered to the Second Judicial District Prosecutor’s Office next week, he said.
Rolland said he is unsure of a timeline for the prosecutor’s office as a special prosecutor is being requested from the Office of the Prosecutor Coordinator.
“The selected special prosecutor shall have full discretion in such matter,” Fonticiella wrote, “and shall be vested with all constitutional and statutory powers possessed by the duly selected prosecutor for the 2nd Judicial District of Arkansas in both the circuit and district”.
