Arkansas / AR Public Defender Commission

Agency file

AR Public Defender Commission

Source file: Arkansas — State Employee Compensation / ingested Jun 18, 2026

The AR Public Defender Commission handles legal functions of government — prosecution, legal advice, and representing the state in court.

In 2026, this agency had 389 employees with median total compensation of $59,625; the highest distinct record was $182,485.

Year: 2026
Total payroll: $28.4M
Employees: 389
Median total: $59,625
Highest record: $182,485

What the records show

Compensation analytics

These summaries compare pay within the agency before listing individual records.

Salary distribution

$21,486$151,435+

Hover a bar for its range; click to filter the list below.

How 2026 total compensation is spread across the 389 employees. Each bar is a pay range; taller bars mean more people earn in that range. The amber line marks the median ($59,625) — half earn less, half more. The far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Average pay composition

Base — $72,981 (100%)
Overtime — $0 (0%)
Other — $0 (0%)
Benefits — $0 (0%)

What an average paycheck here is made of — base salary versus overtime, other pay (bonuses, allowances), and benefits. A large overtime or other-pay share means take-home often exceeds base salary.

Pay percentiles

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$40,000

$51,343

$59,625

$88,790

$127,085

The pay ladder for this department. Someone at the 90th percentile earns $127,085 — more than 90% of the department; the 10th percentile earns $40,000. The shaded band is the middle half of employees (25th–75th percentile).

Largest job titles

Public Defender II

93 · $53,152

Public Defender I

74 · $47,245

Public Defender III

69 · $114,390

Legal Support Specialist

63 · $52,137

Chief Public Defender I

33 · $135,704

The most common job titles in this department by headcount, with the median total compensation for each. Click a title to see everyone who holds it.

Record list

Employees

Page 1

Lea Fowler

Chief Public Defender I/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$129,194

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $129,194
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $129,194
Hire date: 11-07-2022
Pay grade: Spc09
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD01C
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22095073

Lea Fowler works as a Chief Public Defender I for AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Their hire date on record is 11-07-2022. Lea earned $129,194 in 2026. Their pay grade is Spc09.

Brent Gasper

Chief Public Defender I/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$129,194

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $129,194
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $129,194
Hire date: 10-26-1999
Pay grade: Spc09
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD01C
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22095065

Brent Gasper works as a Chief Public Defender I for AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Their hire date on record is 10-26-1999. Brent earned $129,194 in 2026. Their pay grade is Spc09.

Brian Welch

Attorney IV/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$128,503

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $128,503
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $128,503
Hire date: 10-12-2011
Pay grade: Spc09
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LAT06C
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22168706

Brian Welch works as a Attorney IV for AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Their hire date on record is 10-12-2011. Brian earned $128,503 in 2026. Their pay grade is Spc09.

Erin Stroman

Public Defender III/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$128,200

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $128,200
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $128,200
Hire date: 10-24-2011
Pay grade: Spc08
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD05P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22095081

Erin Stroman holds the role of Public Defender III at AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Their hire date on record is 10-24-2011. In 2026, their total compensation was $128,200. Their pay grade is Spc08.

Thomas Montgomery

Chief Public Defender I/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$128,109

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $128,109
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $128,109
Hire date: 02-20-1998
Pay grade: Spc09
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD01C
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22181896

Thomas Montgomery holds the role of Chief Public Defender I at AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Their hire date on record is 02-20-1998. In 2026, their total compensation was $128,109. Their pay grade is Spc09.

Charlene Henry

Public Defender II/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$127,195

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $127,195
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $127,195
Hire date: 11-19-2000
Pay grade: Spc05
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD04P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22184495

Charlene Henry is a Public Defender II at AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Records show a hire date of 11-19-2000. 2026 total compensation came to $127,195. They are classified at grade Spc05.

Sandra Phillips

Public Defender III/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$127,085

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $127,085
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $127,085
Hire date: 06-15-2003
Pay grade: Spc08
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD05P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22095122

Sandra Phillips works as a Public Defender III for AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Their hire date on record is 06-15-2003. Sandra earned $127,085 in 2026. Their pay grade is Spc08.

Mark Fraiser

Chief Public Defender II/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$124,571

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $124,571
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $124,571
Hire date: 02-08-2000
Pay grade: Spc10
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.9

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD02C
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22095139

Mark Fraiser holds the role of Chief Public Defender II at AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Their hire date on record is 02-08-2000 as a 0.9 FTE employee. In 2026, their total compensation was $124,571. Their pay grade is Spc10.