HOT SPRINGS — A man was arrested Thursday on a felony warrant stemming from damage caused in March to the Northwoods Trails system, including the destruction of more than 300 feet of trail and the felling of trees, according to court records.
Jason Lee Hollingsworth, 50, of Hot Springs was taken into custody shortly after noon at Talisman Street and Halfmile Alley and charged with first-degree criminal mischief. He was released on $1,000 bond and is set to appear Aug. 25 in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable-cause affidavit, Northwoods Trails coordinator Traci Berry filed a report March 22 with the Hot Springs police indicating that on March 19, an unknown person drove through the trails in a side-by-side vehicle with a trailer carrying a boat.
While doing so, the person damaged approximately 348 feet of trail and cut down 10 to 12 trees, according to the affidavit. Berry provided police with a photo of the vehicle and trailer shown while it was parked at Dillon Lake, the affidavit said. Berry said she was told by a friend that the driver was Hollingsworth, according to the affidavit. The estimated damage involving the trail and the felled trees was $4,668, the affidavit said.
Hollingsworth and another man were arrested March 26, accused of trespassing after police found them fishing on the lake at the Northwoods Trails.
Detective Les Jessup spoke March 30 with the other man who was fishing with Hollingsworth, according to the affidavit. The man admitted that he and Hollingsworth were fishing on March 19 and that, after it began to storm, the side-by-side got “stuck between some trees,” the affidavit said. The man said Hollingsworth “cut some trees with a chain saw” to free up the side-by-side.