Ark. man charged with rape, exploiting children saws halfway through his leg before trial

MALVERN, Ark. – A man was sentenced Friday to 50 years in prison for rape and child exploitation a day after he tried to saw off his right leg.

The sentence for Jerry Scholes came on guilty pleas to two charges after he was granted a trial delay prompted by the leg incident.

Scholes cut through his right calf and into the bone Tuesday before he dialed 911 and paramedics took him to a hospital, police said.

He had been wearing an electronic monitor on that ankle, but prosecutor Richard Garrett said he believed the sawing was an attempt by Scholes to show he was incompetent for trial, not an effort to remove the monitor.

Garrett said Scholes had fashioned two tourniquets using plastic zip ties, and placed one on the leg and another on his arm.

Scholes was to have gone to trial Thursday on three counts of rape and one count of engaging children in explicit video or print. Instead, he pleaded guilty to the explicit material charge and one rape count, receiving the maximum sentence.

Clint Mathis, an attorney for Scholes, didn't immediately return calls for comment Friday. Mathis asked a judge to postpone the trial after Scholes injured himself. The judge agreed but revoked Scholes' bond and ordered him jailed after his release from a hospital.

Garrett said Scholes was still wearing the electronic monitor: “My understanding is the probation department moved the monitor to his other leg.”