LITTLE ROCK — Justices uphold murder conviction
The state Supreme Court affirmed Thursday the conviction of Robert Lee Williams Jr. in the slaying of James "Booger Red" Cummings, a popular Nevada County produce seller.
A Nevada County Circuit Court jury in 2006 found Williams guilty of capital murder, residential burglary and aggravated robbery. He was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.
Cummings, 80, was found dead July 15, 2004, on a bed in his home in Prescott. His wife, Peggy, told the jury that she found his body after she returned home at 7:30 a.m. from work. Cummings had suffered a blow to the head and had been shot. The house had been ransacked.
Williams, also known as R.J. Williams, was 16 at the time of the slaying, according to an Arkansas Democrat-Gazette article.
During the investigation of a murder in Arkadelphia, he was determined to be a suspect in both crimes and was taken in for questioning, the high court said. He admitted to being a participant, along with three others, in the robbery and slaying of Cummings, the court reported.
He admitted to shooting Cummings once in the back, said the high court's 6-0 opinion, written by Justice Paul E. Danielson.
Williams, now 21, is an inmate at the Varner Supermax in Lincoln County.
- ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTELawyer fined $100 for widow's claim
A Mount Ida attorney was cautioned by a state lawyer-discipline panel Thursday for failing for 2 1/2 years to file Social Security claims for a widow.
William H. McKimm was hired by Betty Pass Simmons in September 2006 to file a claim for benefits related to her late husband and another appeal for denial of a disability claim.
McKimm didn't file the claim, eventually admitting that he "simply lost track of what should have been happening with the appeal[s]," according to a finding by the Supreme Court Committee on Professional Conduct.
Simmons has been informed by the Social Security Administration that she won't be reimbursed for 30 months of payments that may have been lost by McKimm's inaction.
McKimm, who negotiated a consent finding with the panel, said he would keep in contact with Simmons and her new attorney about any restitution he might owe her.
The committee cautioned McKimm for failing to represent Simmons in a prompt and timely manner and was assessed $100 in costs.
- ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTETwo officers hurt in car chase
DURANT, Okla. - Two Durant police officers were hurt Saturday while pursuing an assault suspect.
While off icer Wesley Crank was investigating the assault about 2 a.m. Saturday, he saw a car drive away and followed it on U.S. 70, said police Lt. Carrie Wyrick.
Another officer trying to catch up to the chase lost control of his car and crashed into a tree. Wyrick said that officer, whose identity was not released, was taken to a Dallas hospital in serious condition.
After the suspect stopped his car and ran from the area, Crank crashed into the back of the vehicle, injuring his back. Crank was treated at a local hospital and released.
Authorities are searching for the suspect, who has not been identified.
- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Missourian, son scale Kilimanjaro
INDEPENDENCE, Mo.
- A Missouri man celebrated his 64th birthday with his son as they climbed Mount Kilimanjaro.
The Examiner newspaper in Independence reported that Johnny Stabno of Independence reached the top of the more than 19,000-foot mountain on Sept. 6, his birthday.
Along with his son Andreas Stabno, they celebrated a combined 100 years of life together. The effort took seven days to complete.
Six support group members and two guides helped.
A guide even carried a birthday cake for three days.
The dream surfaced in 1986 when Johnny Stabno first visited Africa.
- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Visiting scholar
to speak in LR
Hanmin Liu, a visiting scholar at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service's Center on Community Philanthropy, will give a speech at the Little Rock campus Thursday.
Liu is president of the Wildflowers Institute, a nonprofit that promotes socially and financially stable communities in the United States, China and Mexico. He is a member of the board of trustees of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and he holds doctoral degrees in philosophy and dental surgery.
The focus of the Wildflowers Institute is to encourage communities to nurture local business, create safe public spaces and cultivate shared values.
Liu's speech is scheduled from noon to 1 p.m. at Sturgis Hall, 1200 President Clinton Ave.
Admission is free and open to the public. Reservations are available by e-mailing publicprograms @clintonschool.uasys.edu or calling (501) 683-5239.
Attendees may bring their own bag lunch, and drinks will be provided.
- ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
Northwest Arkansas, Pages 22 on 09/27/2009