{{Short description|American politician (born 1977)}}{{Peacock|date=May 2026}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2015}} {{Infobox Officeholder | name = Conner Eldridge | image = Connereldridge-150.jpg | caption = Official portrait, 2012 | office = United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas | president = Barack Obama | term_start = December 10, 2010 | term_end = August 21, 2015 | predecessor = Deborah Groom {{small|(Acting)}} | successor = Duane Kees | birth_name = William Conner Eldridge, Jr. | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|09|09}} | birth_place = Fayetteville, Arkansas, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | party = Democratic | spouse = Mary Elizabeth | children = William Eldridge Henry Eldridge Tull Eldridge | education = Davidson College (BA)<br>University of Arkansas, Fayetteville (JD) }} '''William Conner Eldridge Jr.''' (born September 9, 1977) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas. He was the Democratic Party nominee for the 2016 U.S. Senate election in Arkansas.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-09-29 |title=President Obama Names Conner Eldridge to Serve as U.S. Attorney |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2010/09/29/president-obama-names-conner-eldridge-serve-us-attorney |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=whitehouse.gov |language=en}}</ref>
==Personal life and education== Eldridge was born on September 9, 1977, in Fayetteville, Arkansas.<ref name=Meet>{{cite news|last=Ramonas|first=William|title=Meet William Conner Eldridge Jr.|url=http://www.mainjustice.com/2010/10/13/meet-william-conner-eldridge-jr/|access-date=September 20, 2013|newspaper=Main Justice|date=October 13, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053329/http://www.mainjustice.com/2010/10/13/meet-william-conner-eldridge-jr/|archive-date=September 21, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> He lived in Augusta, Arkansas for twelve years before moving to Lonoke, Arkansas, where he worked on his family's farm.<ref name=lyon/> After graduating from Lonoke High School, he earned a bachelor's degree from Davidson College in 1999. In 2003, he earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas, where he served on the law review.<ref name=USA>{{cite web|title=Conner Eldridge|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao/biographies/eldridge.html|publisher=United States Department of Justice|access-date=September 20, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053235/http://www.justice.gov/usao/biographies/eldridge.html|archive-date=September 21, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Eldridge is the son-in-law of Ross Whipple, the former owner of Summit Bank.<ref>{{cite web|title=Summit CEO Ross Whipple on Arkansas' 4 Biggest Banking Issues|url=http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/96767/summit-ceo-ross-whipple-on-arkansas-4-biggest-banking-issues?page=all|access-date=January 29, 2016|publisher=Arkansas Business}}</ref> He and his wife, Mary Elizabeth, have three children.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Woods |first=Michael |date=2013-07-28 |title=William Conner Eldridge Jr.|url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2013/jul/28/william-conner-eldridge-jr-20130728/ |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=www.arkansasonline.com |language=en}}</ref>
==Career== Between 1999 and 2004, Eldridge served as a legislative correspondent for Senator Blanche Lincoln, a legislative assistant for Congressman Marion Berry, and a law clerk for G. Thomas Eisele.<ref name=Magnolia>{{cite news|title=President nominates Arkadelphia banker Conner Eldridge as U.S. attorney|url=http://www.magnoliareporter.com/news_and_business/regional_news/article_0cdeda1c-cc39-11df-b020-001cc4c002e0.html?mode=story|access-date=September 20, 2013|newspaper=Magnolia Reporter|date=September 29, 2010}}</ref> As a legislative aide, his work focused primarily on agricultural issues.<ref name=lyon>{{cite news|last1=Lyon|first1=John|title=Conner Eldridge To Challenge Boozman For U.S. Senate Seat|url=http://swtimes.com/news/politics/conner-eldridge-challenge-boozman-us-senate-seat|access-date=1 October 2015|publisher=Southwest Times Record|date=9 September 2015|archive-date=October 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003081415/http://swtimes.com/news/politics/conner-eldridge-challenge-boozman-us-senate-seat|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Eldridge transitioned into the banking sector in July 2005 as president of Arkadelphia’s Summit Bank. He joined the board of directors in March 2006.<ref name="40 under">{{cite web |title=Conner Eldridge |url=http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/people/lists/profile/667/conner-eldridge |publisher=Arkansas Business}}</ref> From 2006 to 2008, Eldridge served as corporate executive vice president and senior counsel. He then served as its chief executive officer from 2008 to 2010.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ramonas|first1=Andrew|title=Meet William Conner Eldridge Jr.|url=http://www.mainjustice.com/2010/10/13/meet-william-conner-eldridge-jr/|publisher=Main Justice|access-date=September 20, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053329/http://www.mainjustice.com/2010/10/13/meet-william-conner-eldridge-jr/|archive-date=September 21, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Eldridge became special deputy prosecutor for the Prosecuting Attorney's Office of Clark County in 2009.
===United States Attorney=== After a unanimous confirmation by the U.S. Senate, Eldridge became the US Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas in 2010.<ref name="USA"/> As a federal prosecutor, Eldridge mainly prosecuted child abusers, drug traffickers and fraudsters.<ref name="conner for Arkansas">{{cite web|title=Conner Eldridge for U.S. Senate|url=https://connerforarkansas.com/about/|access-date=January 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911154403/https://connerforarkansas.com/about/|archive-date=September 11, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2014, Eldridge's office successfully prosecuted Brandon Barber, a former Northwest Arkansas developer, who developed schemes to defraud banks, creditors and the Federal Bankruptcy Court.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2014/10/28/former-developer-brandon-barber-gets-65-month-federal-sentence|title = Former developer Brandon Barber gets 65-month federal sentence|date = October 28, 2014}}</ref> Barber received a sixty-five-month federal sentence for bank fraud and money laundering.
== Cases ==
=== Child abuse prosecutions === During his time as a U.S. Attorney, Eldridge prosecuted over 100 child abusers and pornographers.<ref name="conner for Arkansas"/> Eldridge's office saw individuals convicted on charges of child abuse, including transporting minors with the intent to engage in sexual activity,<ref name="walter roberts">{{cite news|title=Former baseball coach Walter Roberts sentenced to 10 years for child molestation|url=http://archive.thv11.com/news/article/266265/2/Former-baseball-coach-sentenced-to-10-years-for-child-molestation|access-date=January 29, 2016|publisher=THV 11}}{{Dead link|date=November 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> possession of child pornography,<ref name="child">{{cite web|last1=Lanning|first1=Curt|title=Three Men Sentenced To More Than 21 Years For Child Porn|date=May 6, 2015|url=http://5newsonline.com/2015/05/06/three-men-sentenced-to-more-than-21-years-for-child-porn//|access-date=January 29, 2016|publisher=KFSM 5 News}}</ref> and production of child pornography.<ref name="production">{{cite news |title=Child-porn maker to serve 21.8 years |url=http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2015/apr/02/child-porn-maker-to-serve-21-8-years-20/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202225952/http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2015/apr/02/child-porn-maker-to-serve-21-8-years-20/ |archive-date=2016-02-02 |access-date=January 29, 2016 |newspaper=Arkansas Democrat-Gazette}}</ref> Eldridge underscored the importance of these convictions, stating, "there is no higher priority in our office than protecting our children."<ref name="child"/>
Eldridge also proactively sought to fight child abuse by providing information to parents about how to protect their children, and how to be an advocate for the communities on child abuse.<ref name="talk business">{{cite web |last1=Tilley |first1=Michael |date=October 28, 2015 |title=Conner Eldridge: 'I'm here to be a prosecutor' |url=http://talkbusiness.net/2015/01/conner-eldridge-im-here-to-be-a-prosecutor/ |access-date=January 28, 2016 |publisher=Talk Business & Politics Magazine}}</ref>
To combat child abuse and help children in violent and crime-ridden homes succeed in their school setting and life, Eldridge launched the A-Chance program in August of 2014.<ref name="conner for Arkansas"/> Eldridge saw this program as a step to "truly change the cycle of violence in our communities".<ref name="a-chance">{{cite web|last1=Souza|first1=Kim|title=U.S. Attorney Conner Eldridge Begins A-Chance Program To Focus On Children Of Troubled Homes|date=August 5, 2015|url=http://talkbusiness.net/2015/08/u-s-attorney-conner-eldridge-begins-a-chance-program-to-focus-on-children-of-troubled-homes/|access-date=January 29, 2016|publisher=Talk Business & Politics}}</ref>
The A-Chance ("Arkansas Cultivating Healthy Attitudes and Nurturing Children to Excel") program allows the police working a domestic violence or crime scene in a home involving school-age children to contact the children’s school officials by early the following day with a “Handle with Care Notice” so that these children will be treated sensitively in the wake of trauma.<ref name="a-chance"/> The program seeks to provide support for children following traumatic events and to help students succeed in school.
===="Operation Crystal Clear"==== Beginning in 2011, agents with the FBI and FBI Task Force initiated an investigation, known as “Operation Crystal Clear”, into Jamie Martin and his drug trafficking organisation. During the investigation, agents identified Martin as a supply source in Columbia County, Arkansas. Pursuant to a court order, over the course of an interception, investigators received numerous wire and electronic communications between Martin and his co-conspirators discussing the distribution of methamphetamine and the collection of drug debts. In many of the communications, Martin and co-conspirators used coded language to disguise their drug trafficking activities. Through their investigation, agents learned that Martin was responsible for the distribution of ounce quantities of methamphetamine to various customers in the Western District of Arkansas. Additionally, during the investigation, agents conducted numerous controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Martin. During the course of those controlled buys, Martin sent various co-conspirators to deliver the methamphetamine on his behalf. As a result of this investigation, agents seized over three pounds of methamphetamine, five firearms, and approximately $160,000 in cash. Martin and his co-conspirators were charged in a 15-count indictment by a Federal Grand Jury, which was filed on March 6, 2013. Martin pleaded guilty to one count of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine on December 11, 2013. During sentencing, it was determined that Martin was an organizer or leader of a criminal activity that involved five or more participants and that Martin possessed a dangerous weapon during the commission of the offence.<ref name="crystal"/>
After charging 24 individuals with state and federal crimes involving large-scale drug trafficking related to Martin, Eldridge emphasized the importance of "identifying, investigating, and prosecuting drug trafficking organizations in South Arkansas and throughout the Western District." Eldridge went on to ensure that "those who bring this illegal activity onto our streets" will be "held accountable so that Arkansans can have confidence that our streets are safe."<ref name="clear">{{cite web|title=Operation Crystal Clear Results in Charges Against 24 Defendants as Part of Investigation into Drug Trafficking in Arkansas and Texas|url=https://www.fbi.gov/dallas/press-releases/2013/operation-crystal-clear-results-in-charges-against-24-defendants-as-part-of-investigation-into-drug-trafficking-in-waldo-and-magnolia-arkansas-and-texas|access-date=January 29, 2016|publisher=FBI}}</ref>
In April 2015, Eldridge announced that Jamie B. Martin, age 36, of Waldo, Arkansas, was sentenced to 240 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release on one count of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine.<ref name="crystal">{{cite web|title=Leader of Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison Following Operation Crystal Clear|url=https://www.fbi.gov/littlerock/press-releases/2015/leader-of-drug-trafficking-organization-sentenced-to-20-years-in-prison-following-operation-crystal-clear|access-date=January 29, 2016|publisher=FBI}}</ref> Upon sentencing, Eldridge stated that the case resulted in the dismantling of a drug trafficking organization operating in southern Arkansas.
====Frank Maybee and Sean Popejoy==== In the early morning hours of June 20, 2010, Frank Maybee and Sean Popejoy of Green Forest, Arkansas, targeted five Hispanic men at a gas station parking lot. According to court records, the victims had not interacted with or provoked the pair prior to the incident. Maybee and Popejoy shouted racial slurs at the men and told them to “go back to Mexico” before pursuing them in Maybee’s truck after the victims drove away. During the pursuit, Popejoy leaned out of the passenger-side window, brandished a tire wrench, and continued yelling threats and racial epithets. Maybee repeatedly rammed the victims’ vehicle with his truck, causing it to cross into the opposite lane of traffic, leave the roadway, crash into a tree, and catch fire. The victims sustained severe injuries, including life-threatening injuries to one individual.<ref name="federal hate crime">{{cite web|title=Arkansas Jury Finds Man Guilty of Federal Hate Crime Related to the Assault of Five Hispanic Men|date=May 19, 2011|publisher=Department of Justice|url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/arkansas-jury-finds-man-guilty-federal-hate-crime-related-assault-five-hispanic-men|access-date=January 28, 2016}}</ref>
In 2011, Maybee and Popejoy were charged with federal hate crime offenses and were later convicted by a federal jury. Maybee was found guilty of five counts of committing a federal hate crime and one count of conspiracy to commit a federal hate crime, while Popejoy was convicted of one count of committing a federal hate crime and one count of conspiracy to commit a federal hate crime.<ref name="federal hate crime" />
U.S. District Judge Jimm Larry Hendren sentenced Maybee to 11 years in prison and Popejoy to 4 years in prison.<ref>[http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2011/09/28/green-forest-men-sentenced-for-hate-crime Green Forest men sentenced for hate crime]</ref> Eldridge commented that Maybee and Popejoy were the first individuals sentenced under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, an Act of Congress that bolstered prosecution of hate crimes in 2009.
Eldridge condemned the incident, stating that “acts of violence that occur simply because of how someone looks are horrific” and describing the targeting of the victims because they were Hispanic as reprehensible.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arkansas Men Sentenced for Federal Hate Crimes Related to the Assault of Five Hispanic Men |url=https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/arkansas-men-sentenced-federal-hate-crimes-related-assault-five-hispanic-men |access-date=2026-05-16 |date=September 28, 2011|publisher=Department of Justice}}</ref> Eldridge also thanked the jury “for their careful consideration of the evidence and for holding the defendants accountable for their actions” and expressed hope that similar acts “never occur”.
==U.S. Senate campaign== {{main|2016 United States Senate election in Arkansas}} In 2015, Eldridge announced that he would challenge incumbent Republican John Boozman in the 2016 election to the United States Senate.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/107024/eldridge-launches-bid-to-unseat-republican-sen-boozman|title = Conner Eldridge Launches Bid to Unseat Republican John Boozman|date=September 9, 2015|last=Carter|first=Mark|publisher=Arkansas Business}}</ref> Eldridge described himself as a candidate with a fresh perspective and an independent voice. Eldridge said he planned to serve and make a difference for Arkansans who are increasingly "frustrated with a Washington that seems further and further removed from the real problems they face every day."<ref name="conner for Arkansas"/> Eldridge's campaign emphasized nonpartisanship and "getting things done".<ref name="amp">{{cite web|last1=Sweeney|first1=Erica|title=U.S. Senate Candidate Eldridge: Campaign 'Not a Partisan Exercise'|date=December 15, 2015|url=http://amppob.com/u-s-senate-candidate-eldridge-campaign-not-a-partisan-exercise/|publisher=Arkansas Money & Politics}}</ref>
===Political positions=== [[File:Conner Eldridge, Springdale Rally 002.jpg|right|thumb|Eldridge addresses a crowd at a Washington County Democrats rally at Shiloh Square in Springdale.]] During his campaign, Eldridge promised to prioritize job creation, education and the national debt, among other issues. Specifically, he drew attention to the national deficit and debt. "We know that we've got $18 trillion in debt and that debt has tripled since my opponent took office," Eldridge said. "It is time we start doing something about it now."<ref name="on the issues">{{cite web|title=Conner Eldridge in 2016 AR Senate race|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/Archive/2016_AR_Senate_Conner_Eldridge.htm|website=OnTheIssues.org}}</ref>
Following President Barack Obama's Executive Order on guns, Eldridge, issued a statement encouraging the United States Congress to secure and defend the rights of lawful gun owners under the Second Amendment, enforce the gun laws already on the books, and make it harder for criminals, those with mental health conditions, and terrorists to obtain weapons.<ref name="guns">{{cite web|title=ELDRIDGE STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT'S EXECUTIVE ORDERS ON GUNS|url=https://connerforarkansas.com/eldridge-statement-on-presidents-executive-orders-on-guns/|publisher=Conner Eldridge for U.S. Senate|access-date=May 14, 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923215856/https://connerforarkansas.com/eldridge-statement-on-presidents-executive-orders-on-guns/|archive-date=September 23, 2016|url-status=dead|date=January 5, 2016}}</ref>
Drawing from his experience as a prosecutor and US Attorney, Eldridge said that if elected to the US Senate, he would introduce legislation that would increase the maximum sentence for child predators, including first-time offenders, to life in prison.<ref name="child predators">{{cite web|title=ELDRIDGE PROPOSES LIFE SENTENCES FOR CHILD PREDATORS|url=https://connerforarkansas.com/eldridge-proposes-life-sentences-for-child-predators/|access-date=January 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923221435/https://connerforarkansas.com/eldridge-proposes-life-sentences-for-child-predators/|archive-date=September 23, 2016|url-status=dead|publisher=Conner Eldridge for U.S. Senate|date=January 28, 2016}}</ref> This would include criminals who sexually abuse children and those criminals who produce images of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== * [http://www.connerforarkansas.com/ Conner Eldridge for Senate campaign website]
{{s-start}} {{s-ppo}} {{s-bef|before=Blanche Lincoln}} {{s-ttl|title=Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from Arkansas<br>(Class 3)|years=2016}} {{s-aft|after=Natalie James}} {{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eldridge, Conner}} Category:1977 births Category:Arkansas Democrats Category:Arkansas lawyers Category:Davidson College alumni Category:Living people Category:Politicians from Fayetteville, Arkansas Category:United States attorneys for the Western District of Arkansas Category:University of Arkansas School of Law alumni Category:Candidates in the 2016 United States Senate elections Category:21st-century American lawyers Category:21st-century Arkansas politicians