The Associated Press
Man admits to stealing from American Legion post
BENTONVILLE -- A former commander of a northwestern Arkansas American Legion post has pleaded guilty to charges related to the theft of more than $100,000 from the group.
The Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that 53-year-old Marvin Akers of Rogers pleaded guilty Thursday to a theft of property charge and was sentenced to 10 years of probation as part of a plea deal.
Akers was commander of the American Legion's Riddle-Hutcheson Post 77 when he and post treasurer Kim Emerson were charged with together stealing money from the post.
Emerson pleaded guilty Monday to the same charge and was also sentenced probation.
Judge refuses to
dismiss FOIA lawsuit
in corruption case
FAYETTEVILLE -- An Arkansas judge is refusing to dismiss a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit connected to corruption charges against a former state senator, a private college president and a consultant.
The Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that the judge on Thursday rejected the request by Ecclesia College to dismiss the lawsuit seeking documents related to how state funds were used by the college in Springdale.
The college argued that receiving state money doesn't subject it to the FOIA and that, as a church and a nonprofit corporation, it's doesn't have to release the documents.
Ecclesia President Oren Paris III, Republican former state Sen. Jon Woods and consultant Randell Shelton Jr. are charged with arranging for Woods to receive kickbacks in exchange for providing state funding to the college.
Each has pleaded not guilty.
State Desk on 11/12/2017