A Pulaski County circuit judge said Monday that Little Rock businessman Terry L. Fleming will serve three days in jail for contempt of court if his civil lawsuit with a woman who accused him of human trafficking and sexually exploiting her isn’t settled by Friday.
Fleming, the founder of Little Rock’s PerfectVision Manufacturing, one of Arkansas’ largest private companies, also is facing more sanctions that might include striking his answer in a case filed in late 2020 by Corissa Withrow of Pulaski County, Pulaski County Circuit Judge Timothy Fox wrote in his order.
If Fox strikes Fleming’s answer, that would result in a default judgment against him and a jury would then decide on the amount of damages Withrow is owed. In court filings, Fleming has denied the allegations.
Withrow and Fleming have a second round of mediation set for Thursday, and Fox said he doesn’t want to interfere with the preparation for and attendance of that mediation session.
“Therefore, unless the matter is completely resolved by all parties, or there is an additional order from the court prior to his report date and time,” Fleming is ordered to report to the Pulaski County Detention Facility at noon on Friday, where he will stay until noon on Monday, July 17, Fox wrote.
Fleming “is clearly in contempt of this court’s order” of Dec. 6, 2021 and has been for 19 months, Fox said. In that order, Fleming was fined $15,000 for a sanction for hiring someone “to drone survey and follow the plaintiff’s” attorney, Fox’s order said. Fleming also was ordered to pay $5,000 in connection with not producing material asked for in a subpoena.
But he hasn’t paid the fine, and if that’s not paid by noon on Monday, Fleming “will remain incarcerated for civil contempt” until the fine is paid, Fox said.
One of Fleming’s attorneys, Tim Steadman of Holleman & Associates of Little Rock, wasn’t available for comment Monday afternoon.
Withrow’s attorney, Gene A. Ludwig of Little Rock, was also unavailable for comment.
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