John R. Tyson, heir to Tyson Foods Inc., pleaded guilty to charges of drunken driving and other offenses following an arrest in June. He agreed to pay fines but avoided further jail time.
According to Bloomberg and court records, Tyson, the great-grandson of the company’s founder, was fined a total of $960 and ordered to complete 32 hours of community service.
The legal proceedings stem from a June 13 incident in which John Tyson was arrested at approximately 1:30 a.m. by the University of Arkansas Police Department. He faced charges of driving while intoxicated, careless driving, and making an improper U-turn.
A 90-day jail sentence was suspended as part of a plea agreement reached in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
This marked Tyson’s second arrest related to intoxication, sparking concerns about his future within the company. At the time, he was viewed as a possible successor to CEO Donnie King, a role traditionally filled by family members.
In 2022, John Tyson gained attention after being arrested for public intoxication and criminal trespass when he was found asleep in a stranger’s bed in Fayetteville.
The woman reportedly left her door unlocked, which allowed Tyson to enter her home. Police arrived to find Tyson unresponsive and attempting to go back to sleep. An officer noted the smell of alcohol and that his movements were sluggish.
Tyson later apologized publicly and sought counseling for alcohol abuse, acknowledging that his behavior was inconsistent with his personal and company values.
John Tyson was initially suspended from his CFO role following his June arrest, which occurred after a police officer observed his SUV speeding and hitting a curb in Fayetteville. He was permanently removed from the CFO position two months later.
In August, Tyson Foods appointed Curt Calaway, a long-time employee, to replace John as CFO. The company noted that John Tyson remains with Tyson Foods but is currently on a “health-related leave.”
