Two Bentonville men, Nathaniel Tyler Archer, 28, and Nicholas Patrick Padgett, 30, have pleaded not guilty to charges of stealing $100,000 in silver coins from a 15-year-old boy. The incident occurred after the men lured the boy from his home. Archer is facing additional charges of theft by receiving, bestiality, and distributing, possessing, or viewing matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child.
According to court documents, the Bentonville Police Department received assistance from the Adams Township Police Department in Pennsylvania to locate Padgett and Archer, who had active warrants for interference with custody of children, receiving stolen property, and theft by unlawful taking or disposition.
The men are accused of enticing the 15-year-old boy to travel with them to Arkansas. During the journey, the minor expressed a desire to return home and was left stranded at a motel in St. Roberts, Missouri. Prior to abandoning him, Padgett and Archer assisted the juvenile in loading 23 buckets containing JFK half-ounce silver dollar coins, valued between $100,000 and $140,000, into Padgett’s car.
After their arrest in Bentonville, police discovered 499 silver coins in a backpack in Padgett’s bedroom. Additionally, a search of his car revealed 11 buckets containing approximately 11,000 silver coins. A search of Archer’s residence uncovered 12 buckets with around 11,000 silver coins.
During interviews with law enforcement, both men admitted to their involvement in the plan to pick up the juvenile and subsequently abandon him. Upon returning to Bentonville, they divided the stolen silver coins between themselves.
Padgett is scheduled for a jury trial on December 12 in Benton County.
