July 5 jury trial set for U.S. Marshals Museum CEO

BusinessFort SmithTourism / Heritage

by Tina Alvey Dale ([email protected]) March 2, 2022 5:19 pm 1,507 views 

A July 5 trial date has been set for Patrick Weeks, president and CEO of the U.S. Marshals Museum. Weeks was arrested Dec. 21 on two felony charges of aggravated assault with a firearm. He pleaded innocent on two counts of aggravated assault at his arraignment Dec. 30.

Week’s case was filed directly from Fort Smith District Court to Sebastian County Circuit Court before a preliminary hearing Feb. 15. A jury trial under Sebastian County Circuit Judge Stephen Tabor is set for July 5.

According to a Fort Smith Police Department report, Weeks refused to allow two OG&E workers into his yard to work on street lights Dec. 21. The workers called the police when Weeks followed them with a pistol and pointed the pistol at them. Weeks was arrested without incident following the encounter and was released on a $3,000 bond from the Sebastian County Adult Detention Center on Dec. 21.

Conviction of a Class D felony is punishable by up to six years in prison, in addition to a fine not to exceed $10,000. Sebastian County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Shue said that pursuant to Arkansas Model Rules of Professional Conduct, any charges filed are mere accusations and Weeks is “presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty of a crime.” Weeks’ attorney of record is Rex Chronister.

Weeks was placed on administrative leave Dec. 23 by the U.S. Marshals Museum board. Hired in June 2014 as museum president and CEO, Weeks succeeded Jim Dunn who had served as museum president since 2009.

In January 2007, the U.S. Marshals Service selected Fort Smith as the site for the national museum. A ceremonial groundbreaking was held in September 2015, and museum officials initially hoped to have the facility open by late 2017.

Museum officials announced in early November that the Fort Smith-based museum had received an influx of contributions following a $5 million matching gift announced over the summer, meaning production of the museum experience could start soon and the museum could open within a year. Construction of the approximately 53,000 square feet U.S. Marshals Museum was completed – except for exhibits – in early 2020. The facility is located on the Arkansas River near downtown Fort Smith. An opening date for the completed museum has not been announced.