Cedric Allen Wiley, age 30, of Mountain Pine, was sentenced to a total of 166 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release on one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm and one count of Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.
The Honorable Chief Judge Susan O. Hickey presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Hot Springs.
On Thursday, February 21, 2019, at approximately 7:00 p.m., National Park Service (NPS) agents responded to a shooting that occurred along Summit Drive of West Mountain within Hot Springs National Park, in the Western District of Arkansas.
NPS Dispatch reported the shooting and that a victim had been shot in the back.
Responding NPS officers were able to identify a possible suspect(s) based on information provided by the victim both on scene and at the hospital. Additionally, the victim later confirmed that the person who shot him or her was, Cedric “Ced” Wiley.
According to the victim, prior to the shooting, he or she had been riding around in a vehicle with Wiley and others when they stopped at the Hot Springs National Park.
While at the Hot Springs National Park, Wiley turned around, drew a weapon from his person and fired the weapon as the victim ran toward the shoulder of the road. The victim stated that they were hit in the back and went over the embankment, and that they ran into the woods and down the embankment. Wiley continued to shoot at them. Wiley left the scene and the victim was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment.
On February 24, 2019, investigators interviewed Wiley in reference to this investigation. After being advised of his Miranda rights and voluntarily and knowingly waiving them, Wiley admitted he contacted the victim to arrange a meeting . Wiley advised that he was upset with the victim, and that he shot the victim in the National Park on February 21, 2019, with a firearm that Wiley had obtained prior to the shooting.
“Investigating and prosecuting violent crimes such as this one is a top priority in the Department of Justice and the Western District of Arkansas,” said First Assistant Fowlkes. “We will continue to work relentlessly to make our communities safer by ensuring that violent criminals are prosecuted using the full extent of our federal and state resources.”
Wiley was indicted by a federal grand jury in June of 2019, and entered a guilty plea in August of 2019.
This case was investigated by, the National Park Service. Assistant United States Attorney Bryan Achorn prosecuted the case for the Western District of Arkansas.
