Arkansas man pleads not guilty to kidnapping, sexual assault charges

QUINCY — Mario Mason of Turrell, Ark., pled not guilty to charges that he kidnapped a Quincy woman in July.

Mason, 40, entered the plea Tuesday afternoon during an arraignment hearing before Judge Amy Lannerd in Adams County Circuit Court. He was wearing an orange jumpsuit while handcuffed at his ankles and wrists.

A status hearing with Lannerd was set for Dec. 14. Mason’s case has been placed on the Jan. 10 trial docket before Judge Bob Adrian, with a pre-trial hearing set for Jan. 3. Mason is being held in the Adams County Jail on a $2 million bond.

Mason faces one count of aggravated kidnapping and two counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault, all Class X felonies. He faces between six and 30 years in the Department of Corrections on each count. If convicted, he faces mandatory consecutive sentencing.

Illinois’ “Truth In Sentencing” for violent crimes also applies to Mason’s case. If convicted, he must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before he can get out of prison.

Mason also faces one count of kidnapping, a Class 2 felony, and one count of aggravated domestic battery, a Class 2 felony. He faces between three and seven years in the Department of Corrections on each count.

Vanessa Pratt represented Mason during Tuesday’s arraignment.

Quincy Police began its investigation on July 19 of the kidnapping of Tabitha Campbell, 36, of Quincy. A search warrant was conducted in a room at the Welcome Inn, which led to the discovery of evidence relating to an alleged aggravated domestic battery and kidnapping that occurred July 17 at the Welcome Inn. Police suspected Campbell was taken against her will by Mason.

Campbell was found July 21 in Marked Tree, Ark. 

Mason was captured Sept. 14 in Marshall County, Ky. A stolen vehicle used in the kidnapping in July was located in Marshall County.

Mason allegedly drove the vehicle and fled from Marshall County Sheriff’s deputies and Benton (Ky.) Police, taking them on a vehicle pursuit in rural Marshall County. He parked the vehicle in a subdivision and fled into a wooded area. 

Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, Benton police, Marshall County Fire Rescue Squad, Calloway County Fire, Ledbetter Fire, Kentucky State Police, Marshall County Constable 2 and Marshall County EMS began an extensive search using drones, police canines, ATVs and UTVs of the wooded area. Mason eventually was taken into custody late in the evening.

Mason also faces numerous charges in Kentucky.