08/30/2026
Mrs. Keeton was arrested and convicted (I assume twice, once in District Court and once in Circuit Court) for advising her daughter (correctly) that they do not have to open the door to police if they do not have a search warrant. She was found not guilty on appeal. That means that at least one police officer, at least two judges and 12 jurors and at least two prosecutors all let this happen. Insane:
"Ables conceded that without a search warrant, the officers could not simply enter the house. On this subject, the following exchange occurred:
*5 Q: The thing that [Keeton] did wrong is advise [Madeline], “You don't have to open the door if they don't have a warrant.”
A: That's correct.
Q: Okay, now, but it turns out you did need a warrant for her to open the door, right?
A: Yes.
Q: And you applied for a warrant, right?
A: That is correct.
Q: And you got the warrant.
A: That is correct....
Q: [T]he bottom line is, you needed to get in the house to find a young lady, right?
A: That is correct.
Q: All right. And so––and the judge signed that warrant, didn't he?
A: That is correct.
Q: So that means he agreed with you, right?
A: That is correct.
Q: So since the judge signed the warrant giving you permission to search the house, isn't that proof that you did need a warrant to search that house?
A: I'm not following you.
Q: Let me break [it] down.... You admitted twice now that you needed a warrant to search [Madeline's] house, right.
A: Yes.
*6 Q: So what Dori Keeton told [Madeline] was accurate, wasn't it?
A: To not answer the door?
Q: You don't have to open the door if they don't have a warrant.
A: Yes."
From today's decision in Keeton v. State, written by Arkansas Court of Appeals Judge Cindy Grace Thyer, joined by Judges…