John R. Tyson, heir and executive at Tyson Foods, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of driving while intoxicated.
According to a court spokeswoman, Tyson entered his plea on Monday in Fayetteville District Court, Fayetteville, Arkansas. His next court appearance is scheduled for August 28.
The 34-year-old was arrested on June 13 by University of Arkansas police after being observed driving carelessly and making an illegal turn. He was released the same day on a $1,105 bond.
Following his arrest, Tyson, who has been serving as Tyson Foods’ chief financial officer since 2022, was immediately suspended by the Springdale, Arkansas-based company. Tyson Foods did not respond to inquiries about his plea on Monday.
This marks the second alcohol-related arrest for Tyson in less than two years. In November 2022, he was charged with public intoxication and criminal trespassing after allegedly entering a stranger’s home in Fayetteville and falling asleep in her bed.
Tyson sent a companywide email apologizing for that incident, expressing embarrassment and stating that he was seeking counseling for alcohol abuse. He initially pleaded not guilty to those charges but later settled by pleading guilty and paying fines and court fees.
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Previously an investment banker, Tyson is the son of Tyson Foods Chairman John H. Tyson and the great-grandson of the company’s founder, John W. Tyson.
