Paragould, Ark. – On August 14, 2026, Lee Arthur Banis was booked into the Greene County Detention Center on a new rape warrant, just hours after prosecutors in Craighead County dismissed earlier rape and incest charges because the juvenile victims could not be found.
Background of the dismissed case
Banis had been held in Craighead County on two counts of rape and one count of incest involving two juvenile relatives. The case was overseen by Second Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Sonia F. Hagood. After multiple attempts to meet the victims failed – including a visit to an abandoned residence – prosecutors concluded the victims’ mother had taken the children out of Arkansas without leaving contact information. Unable to locate the children or their mother, the office filed a nolle prosequi, and Judge Philhours dismissed the charges. The filing did not state that the allegations were proven false.
New arrest in Greene County
Separately, an affidavit filed in October 2025 alleged that Banis committed rape and second‑degree sexual assault between April 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025. The affidavit was based on an interview with a juvenile who disclosed abuse to an Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children Division investigator on October 21, 2025. A second interview the following day corroborated parts of the juvenile’s account. A Greene County District Court judge found probable cause on October 30, 2025, and authorized a warrant for Banis’ arrest.
Although the Greene County warrant was issued while Banis was already in custody for the Craighead County case, the two matters are distinct. The new warrant led to his booking at 7:33 p.m. on August 14, 2026, after the Paragould Police Department transferred him to Greene County authorities.
Charges and detention
In Greene County, Banis faces one count of rape, a Class Y felony, and one count of second‑degree sexual assault, a Class B felony. The Greene County Sheriff’s Office roster lists him as being held without bond as of Tuesday morning.
Legal process and next steps
Both cases remain pending, and Banis is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The separate nature of the two investigations means that the dismissal of the Craighead County charges does not affect the pending Greene County prosecution.
Community impact
The rapid succession of legal actions has drawn attention from local residents and law‑enforcement agencies. Parents and community leaders have expressed concern about the safety of children and the challenges prosecutors face when victims are unavailable for interview. The cases also highlight the difficulties in pursuing serious crimes involving minors when families relocate without leaving traceable contact information.
Authorities continue to seek the whereabouts of the victims and their mother, emphasizing the importance of community cooperation in locating missing persons and ensuring accountability for alleged crimes.
Original reporting: NEA Report (Jonesboro) — read the source article.
