Hot Spring County Sheriff Richard Tolleson shared the following release recently on social media.
The Reckoning decided to dig deeper.
According to the criminal information filed by Prosecuting Attorney Teresa Howell, on Feb. 7, 2026, Hot Spring County deputies were dispatched to an address in Donaldson, Ark., for a welfare check on a woman whose father called law enforcement.
Donaldson is approximately 14 miles southwest of Malvern.
The man's daughter sent him photographs of injuries. She said David Alexander Stafford, had beaten her.
A member of law enforcement responded and made contact with the woman at the residence in Donaldson. The officer observed significant injuries, including her "left eye swollen shut with bruising
around the eye, a large, bruised knot on the left side of her forehead, and dried blood on her nose and left ear."
Law enforcement documented the injuries with photographs and took a victim statement.
The incident began on Feb. 6 with an argument that escalated into physical violence. "David Alexander Stafford repeatedly fought and struck her," the report stated.
The assaults continued into Feb. 7 "with the last physical altercation occurring approximately between 1145 and 1215 hours."
The victim also "reported she was holding their baby throughout the assault," the report stated. "A lethality screen was completed, and victim-services information was provided."
Stafford left the scene in a black Toyota with Arkansas plates.
"An ACIC search showed that the vehicle's registration expired in September of 2025," according to the criminal information sheet. "ACIC also showed David Alexander Stafford to have a suspended driver's license."
A BOLO was issued for Stafford and his possible locations, but law enforcement was unable to locate him.
On Feb. 9 another officer was dispatched to the same address. He saw severe bruising on the victim's face. He asked if another disturbance occurred. She said no.
The officer asked if Stafford was at the residence. The victim said no. She told the officer she "had several items packed and was planning to go stay with her father."
The officer stated that he noticed no new injuries. He asked if he could help in any way. The victim said no.
Later that night, according to court documents, the same officer made an extra patrol by the house. He noticed one vehicle was gone. That led him to believe the victim had gone to her father's.
However, on Feb. 11, another officer conducted a follow-up visit to the home. That officer observed injuries "that were more severe than previously documented, along with additional injuries not observed during prior contacts."
He "observed both eyes were dark/bruised, bruising to the left side of her face, and an approximately 1 inch by 1/2-inch laceration to her forehead with minor bleeding," according to court documents.
The officer also "observed bruising/marks on the right side of neck/throat area, consistent with pressure being applied to the neck."
That officer offered medical evaluation and assistance. The victim declined. She said she was "seeking alternate housing" from Stafford. The officer documented the injuries with additional photos.
The officers compared the new injuries with the previous marks.
"The increased severity of the injuries observed on 02/11/2026, including the fresh bleeding from the forehead laceration and newly observed neck/throat bruising, is consistent with having sustained additional injury after prior law enforcement contacts," court documents state.
The court documents also state that on the victim's statements about assaultive conduct and by the officers' direct observations of injuries and the progression of injuries across multiple dates along with photographs documenting those injuries, and the victim's statement that she was assaulted while holding the baby, probable cause existed "to believe David Alexander Stafford committed the following offenses":
(1 count) A.C.A. 5-26-304 - Domestic Battering in the Second Degree– Class C Felony
(1 count) A.C.A. 5-26-306- Aggravated Assault on a Family or Household Member - Class D Felony
(1 count) A.C.A. 5-27-205 Endangering the Welfare of a Minor in the First Degre Class D Felony
(1 count) A.C.A. 5-26-305
Domestic Battering in the Third Degree Class A Misdemeanor
(l count) A.C.A. 5-26-309 Domestic Assault in the Third Degree Class A Misdemeanor
(1 count) A.C.A. 27-16-303 Driving While License Cancelled, Suspended, or Revoked
(1 count) A.C.A. 27-14-314 - Failure to Register Vehicle / Expired Registration
Not the first time
This incident is not the first time Stafford has faced similar charges along wirh possession of drug paraphernalia.
In April 2025 Stafford was arrested after officers were dispatched to a Donaldson residence for a "physical domestic disturbance."
An officer noted that the victim told him Stafford had hit her face and legs. He "hit her with his rifle, held the barrel against her head, and threatened to kill her as well as her other two daughters," according to court documents.
The victim was pregnant and holding one of her children. She received "injuries to her forehead, left thigh, and left calf due to the assault.
Again, just like in February, Stafford left after the victim called 911.
The officer seized Stafford's rifle used in the assault: a black Thompson .22 rifle containing one round in the chamber, that was located in the living room.
On April 3, 2025, an officer located Stafford's silver truck exiting the Dollar General located on Highway 67 in Friendship. The officer "initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle and placed David into custody for the initial domestic battery charges," according to court documents.
The officer found a metal grinder containing marijuana residue in David's vehicle during an inventory search. Stafford's vehicle was towed and Deputy Heathcock transported David to the HSC Jail for charges.
Stafford was charged with six counts:
(1 count) Terroristic Threatening Class D Felony
(1 count) Domestic Battery 3rd Degree (Enhanced) Class D Felony
(1 count) Aggravated Assault on Family Household Member Class D Felony
(1 count) Endangering the Welfare of Minor Class D Felony
(1 count) Possession of Drug Paraphernalia Class A Misdemeanor
(1 count) Driving While License Suspended Class U Misdemeanor
On Nov. 5, 2025, William Solice, deputy prosecuting attorney, filed a "Motion To Nolle Prosequi" meaning the state lacked sufficient evidence to meet its burden of proof because the prosecutor's office could not make contact with the victim after multiple efforts.
The case was closed.
What's Next?
With his most recent charges, Stafford appears before Circuit Judge Margaret Dobson on March 31 in the Hot Spring County Courthouse. A public defender Phil Wilson is representing Stafford.
A no contact order with the victim has been issued.
According to VINELink, Stafford is still in custody.
