Former Hardy Police Chief Scott Rose has been found guilty following a jury trial in Sharp County involving allegations of sexual misconduct with a minor.
A Sharp County jury reached its verdict Friday, August 28, 2026, finding Rose guilty of second-degree sexual assault and knowingly furnishing alcohol to a minor.
According to a report from Jonesboro Right Now citing the court clerk and attorney Zach Morrison, Rose was assessed a $15,000 fine on the second-degree sexual assault conviction.
For knowingly furnishing alcohol to a minor, Rose was sentenced to 1 year in the county jail and assessed a $2,500 fine.
The fines total $17,500.
The verdict comes more than 1 year after Rose was arrested following an extensive investigation involving multiple law enforcement agencies.
Rose was originally arrested June 2, 2025, and initially faced 4 charges:
Second-degree sexual assault, a felony.
Sexual indecency with a child, a felony.
First-degree endangering the welfare of a minor, a felony.
Knowingly furnishing alcohol to a minor, a misdemeanor.
The case began after Sharp County Sheriff Shane Russell said his office received information regarding allegations involving Rose on or about March 31, 2025.
Because Rose was serving as Hardy Police Chief at the time and the allegations were serious, outside agencies became involved in the investigation.
The investigation included the Sharp County Sheriff’s Office, Arkansas State Police, Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI.
According to a probable cause affidavit released following Rose’s arrest, the victim told investigators about alleged inappropriate conduct beginning when the victim was 13 years old.
The affidavit included allegations that Rose inappropriately touched the victim, provided alcohol and sent an inappropriate photograph.
Those claims were allegations presented during the investigation and should be distinguished from the 2 charges on which the jury ultimately returned guilty verdicts.
Rose was interviewed at the FBI office in Jonesboro on June 2, 2025, before being arrested and booked into the Sharp County Detention Center.
Following his arrest, the City of Hardy terminated Rose from his position as police chief.
Rose later appeared in court, where bond was set at $100,000 and a no-contact order was issued.
The jury trial was held in Sharp County during the week of August 24, with the verdict returned Friday afternoon, August 28.
The jury reportedly reached its decision at approximately 5:30 p.m.
Rose was found guilty of second-degree sexual assault and knowingly furnishing alcohol to a minor.
The second-degree sexual assault conviction resulted in a $15,000 fine.
The furnishing-alcohol conviction resulted in a 1-year county jail sentence and a $2,500 fine.
The case brought together local, state and federal law enforcement agencies during an investigation that stretched from the spring of 2025 through Rose’s 2026 trial.
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