25-02-2025
Barling man sentenced to 8 years for planning to carry out shooting at Fort Smith mall
FORT SMITH, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — A Barling man has been sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison after he planned to carry out a shooting at Central Mall in Fort Smith, according to court documents.
Rodney Sheffield, 41, was sentenced on Tuesday for threatening a federal official and for having child pornography on his phone when he was arrested. He pleaded guilty to those charges in June.
Sheffield's eight-year sentence also includes five years of supervised release.
'The Court recommends that the defendant be a candidate for any drug treatment he may qualify for and that he be allowed to participate in mental health counseling/treatment while incarcerated,' the sentencing order said.
The Fort Smith Police Department said it responded to Central Mall for a 911 call where the caller said Sheffield was driving to the mall with the intent to carry out a shooting.
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Officers made a traffic stop on Sheffield for driving recklessly near Rogers Avenue in Fort Smith. During the traffic stop, the officer noticed a rifle on the passenger side floorboard of the vehicle.
Further investigation showed Sheffield had a pending Social Security disability claim and was upset at the status of the claim.
A witness said Sheffield had gone to the building where the Social Security Administration offices were located and told him 'I've had enough, I can't take it anymore.' The person said Sheffield told him he was going to shoot the Social Security Administrative Law Judge.
Sheffield said he wanted to do this to 'teach the government a lesson,' a release from FSPD said. The person said he called 911 after speaking to Sheffield.
Police later searched Sheffield's phone. They found images and videos of child pornography including children as young as around five years old.
He was officially booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on April 27 and released on bond on May 9.
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