An apparent misunderstanding by a staff member in the Baxter County Detention Center regarding the upgrade of an arrest warrant resulted in the former manager of a Mountain Home fast-food restaurant charged with theft being set free by authorities in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Thirty-seven-year-old Phillip Maugaotega is reported to have fled to Hawaii and efforts have been underway to get him returned to Arkansas to reappear in court and face the charges.
Mountain Home-based 1st Arkansas Bail Bonds wrote the bond that allowed Maugaotega to be released from jail locally. He made several court appearances following his release, including one in late October 2024 when he pled not guilty to the charges against him. He then dropped off the radar and warrants for his arrest were issued by the court in May…