Hot Springs traffic stop leads to felony drug charges for two; Montgomery County woman faces habitual offender enhancement

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Two people are facing felony drug charges in Garland County Circuit Court after a Hot Springs police officer followed a Jeep between three hotel parking lots on Central Avenue in July and found a syringe of suspected methamphetamine, a marijuana vape, kratom and a digital scale inside the vehicle, according to court records filed Monday.

Leah Ann Ransom, 25, of Norman, is charged with possession of a Schedule II controlled substance (methamphetamine), a Class D felony, along with misdemeanor counts of possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance (marijuana) and possession of drug paraphernalia. Prosecutors are seeking a habitual offender enhancement, stating she has previously been convicted of four or more felonies. With the enhancement, the felony count carries up to 12 years in the Arkansas Division of Correction.

Nicolas Olen Payte, 43, of Hot Springs, is charged with possession of a Schedule I controlled substance (kratom), a Class D felony punishable by up to six years, along with misdemeanor counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and driving on a suspended license.

According to an affidavit by Hot Springs Police Officer Kris Pierce, at about 7:43 p.m. on July 31 he saw a tan Jeep Cherokee leave the Super 8 parking lot on Central Avenue and ran the plate, which showed the registered owner had a suspended driver’s license. Pierce wrote that when he turned around, the Jeep changed direction from where it had signaled and pulled into Sunbay Resort, then waited to leave until it appeared the officer would be stuck in traffic before crossing the street into the DoubleTree Hotel at 4813 Central Ave., where Pierce initiated a traffic stop.

Payte had already gotten out of the driver’s seat and walked toward the officer, which Pierce wrote he recognized as a tactic to distract from what was happening in the vehicle. The officer wrote that he could see Ransom inside the Jeep moving items between herself and the front passenger door. When asked what she was doing, she said she was getting a cigarette, though she already had a lit cigarette in her hand, according to the affidavit.

Dispatch advised that Payte’s license was suspended, that he was on probation with a search waiver on file and that he had an active warrant out of Montgomery County for battery. Pierce wrote that after he took Payte into custody, he turned back to find Ransom had opened the passenger door and was again manipulating items. Dispatch advised she was also on probation with a search waiver and had an active failure to appear warrant out of Garland County.

Asked what she was trying to hide, Ransom allegedly told the officer it was a syringe inside a black eyeglasses case. A search of the vehicle turned up the case containing a syringe with about 0.3 milliliters of a black fluid that field-tested positive for methamphetamine. Ransom stated it would test as methamphetamine, according to the affidavit. Officers also found a marijuana vape under the front passenger seat weighing 45.8 grams including the device.

Payte was read his rights and told the officer nothing illegal was in the car, but said a silver backpack in the back seat was his. Inside it, Pierce found a black bottle labeled as a kratom dietary supplement containing a honey-like substance. A functional digital scale with white powdery residue slid out when the officer pulled on the center console on the driver’s side, according to the affidavit.

The affidavit states Ransom was convicted of possession of a controlled substance in Montgomery County in October 2025. Her bond paperwork lists a prior felony conviction in Pike County and a 10-year probation term.

Ransom was booked into the Garland County Detention Center shortly after midnight Aug. 1 and remained in custody as of Monday, 51 days later. She is held on bonds totaling $5,000 on the new charges and is also being held on the failure to appear warrant, which has a Dec. 31 court date.

Payte was released Aug. 1 after H&H Bail Bond posted a $4,000 bond.

The charges against Ransom were filed by Special Prosecuting Attorney Robbie Jones. The charges against Payte were filed by Prosecuting Attorney Michelle Lawrence. Both cases are assigned to the 18th East Judicial Circuit.

Charges are formal accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.