BATESVILLE — A 51-year-old Batesville man already held on felony robbery charges was charged Monday in Independence County Circuit Court with three counts of delivery of methamphetamine stemming from controlled purchases by a confidential informant.
Hugh James Stiles faces two counts of delivery of a controlled substance — methamphetamine greater than two grams but less than 10 grams — and one count of delivery of methamphetamine less than two grams. All are Class C felonies. Prosecutors are seeking habitual offender status due to Stiles having more than one but fewer than four prior felony convictions.
According to an affidavit from 16th Judicial District Drug Task Force Special Agent Zach Bailey, agents conducted three controlled buys using a confidential informant: two in 2025 and one in 2026. In each case, agents searched the informant and the informant’s vehicle beforehand, finding no drugs or contraband. The informant was provided buy money and an audio/video recording device, then followed to a meeting location where agents observed the exchange with Stiles.
Post-purchase searches recovered clear plastic baggies containing a crystalline substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamine. Agents confirmed Stiles’ identity in each recording. All evidence has been submitted to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for confirmatory analysis.
Bond on the new charges was set at $10,000.
The drug charges add to pending legal issues for Stiles. He was arrested March 11 in connection with a March 3 robbery at Bayou Park, where authorities allege he and 23-year-old Jordan Lenn Robbins ambushed a former co-worker, taking the victim’s phone and glasses after learning the man had recently received a paycheck. Stiles is held on $50,000 bond in that case and also faces habitual offender enhancement there.
No trial dates have been set in either matter. Stiles remains in custody at the Independence County Detention Center.
