FAYETTEVILLE -- John R. Tyson, the chief financial officer at Tyson Foods, entered a not-guilty plea last week to misdemeanor charges related to him being found sleeping in someone else's home.
Tyson, 32, was arrested just after 2 a.m. on Nov. 7 and was charged with criminal trespass and public intoxication. He later issued a public apology to the resident of the home as well as investors and employees of the company.
Tyson pleaded not guilty through his attorney in Fayetteville District Court on Dec. 1. Tyson's next court date is Feb 15.
Police were called to 445 N. Mock Ave. in Fayetteville at 1:48 a.m. on a report of a burglary. According to a preliminary police report, a woman told police she returned home and found a man she didn't know asleep in her bed. The woman, who wasn't identified, told police she thought the front door had been left unlocked.
The woman gave an officer permission to enter the home, and Tyson was found asleep in a back bedroom on the first floor of the residence. His clothing was on the floor of the bedroom, and the officer identified Tyson from his Arkansas driver's license.
The officer woke Tyson, who sat up but didn't respond verbally, according to the report. After briefly sitting up, Tyson laid back down and attempted to go to sleep. The officer said there was an odor of intoxicants coming from Tyson and his movements were sluggish and uncoordinated.
Tyson was arrested and taken to the Washington County Detention Center. He was released later that morning on $415 bond.
Tyson was named chief financial officer for Springdale-based Tyson Foods in September.