The son of U.S. Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.) was arrested Wednesday under charges of felony possession of methamphetamine and felony possession of drug paraphernalia, officials said.
During a home visit for a previous felony charge, police found 34-year-old James Womack sitting on a zippered eyeglass case. Inside the case, a metal spoon, several syringes, a small glass vile, and an empty plastic bag were found, according to an arrest affidavit. The residue in the bag and contents of the vial both tested positive for meth.
Womack was booked into the Benton County Jail with bond set at $20,000 and remained jailed on Thursday.
Since the early 1990s, Womack has had run-ins with the law.
In 2010, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison for conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance. However, he entered a state prison system boot camp and was told his criminal record would be expunged if he successfully completed the program.
However, he was arrested in April 2012 for parole violation.
In April 2019, Womack was sentenced to nine years in prison after pleading guilty to five felony charges for gun and drugs. He was considered for early release by the Arkansas Department of Correction in May 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“This young man, like a lot of people, has struggled with drug addiction on and off for years,” his attorney, Shane Wilkinson, said. “He has an addiction that has affected him, his family, and other people that love him. His family has struggled with his addiction for years, and this is no exception.”
