Hardy, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – June 7, 2025 – Statements from an alleged victim that led to charges being filed against former Hardy Police Chief Scott Rose allege sexual misconduct occurred over a period of at least two years.
Rose, 47, was arrested Monday night and charged with second-degree sexual assault, knowingly furnishing alcohol to a minor, sexual indecency with a child and first degree endangering the welfare of a minor. Sharp County Sheriff Shane Russell said Rose’s arrest came as the result of a “multi-agency investigation.”
Rose was subsequently fired as the Hardy Police Chief and a new, interim police chief has been named. Rose was released after posting a $100,000 bond set by Sharp County District Judge Alex Bigger. Bigger also ordered Rose to wear an ankle monitor.
One of the court documents obtained by JonesboroRightNow is an affidavit presented to Judge Bigger this week. The exhibit (Exhibit A) is written by Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigator Sergeant Matt Foster and signed by Sharp County Circuit Judge Rob Ratton. It is Foster’s written review of a voluntary forensic interview of the victim conducted by FBI Special Agent Trent Hemphill and FBI Task Force Officer Andrew Thrasher of the Arkansas State University Police Department.
Foster wrote that, in the forensic interview, the victim disclosed a “long-term pattern of grooming and sexual boundary violations by Scott Rose beginning when (the victim) was approximately 13 years old.” Foster wrote that the victim described Rose as being “closely involved” in her and her family’s life.
The review also cited an event occurring in February 2025 when Rose allegedly took the victim with him to “help search for a missing elderly woman.” The victim told investigators that Rose purchased alcohol at a gas station and repeatedly offered the victim drinks before taking the victim to his (Rose’s) cabin.”
There were details of alleged sexual boundary violations contained in the interview that JRN has decided not to include in this story.
The victim also told investigators that Rose did inappropriate things to her when she was 13 and 14 years old. The victim said Rose “called her ‘babe,'” and told her “He wanted to be the man she grew up to marry.” It could not be determined from the affidavit how old the victim is today.
Rose hired Jonesboro attorney Martin Lilly to represent him. Lilly was angered at the probable cause hearing in Sharp County District Court when Judge Bigger set Rose’s bond at $100,000. Lilly claims that he and attorney Jason Barrett, the special prosecutor appointed to prosecute the case, had together agreed on a $25,000 bond.
“It’s clear without any explanation or anything, [the judge] did not contact the special prosecutor, he did not contact me or anyone else and give any reason or explanation for quadrupling the recommended bond from the special prosecutor who was appointed by the state of Arkansas independently to prosecute this case,” Lilly told JRN. “I had hoped that having practiced law for 35 years that, you know, in 2025 we were beyond politics including local politics, including county and state and city politics, but apparently, we aren’t.”
JRN attempted to reach Barrett to confirm Lilly’s claim regarding the bond agreement, but Barrett did not respond to the inquiry.
“We’re going to be asking the state to expedite this matter and to have a trial as quickly as possible,” Lilly added. “Even though we don’t have to prove our innocence, we believe we can even though they cannot prove that any crime has been committed.”
Lilly said he is aware that there is a lot of chatter on social media about Rose’s case.
“I would just simply ask people to wait and pause and wait for the evidence to come out before they pass judgment and that, given our day in court and our day at trial, that the evidence will come out,” he said.
Editor’s Note: To protect the alleged victim in this case, JRN has chosen not to divulge certain case details or information about the victim.
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic/sexual violence, call 800-656-HOPE (4673) to reach the National Sexual Assault Hotline.