PINE BLUFF — New judge named in corruption case
The chief justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court has assigned a new judge to handle the public corruption case against former Jefferson County Judge Jack Jones.
Chief Justice Jim Hannah assigned retired Circuit Judge John Lineberger of Rogers to the case after Judge David Bogard recused himself last month days before trial was scheduled to begin.
Jones, the county judge from 1989 to 2006, is accused of ordering county employees to work on private property and paying them for that work with tax dollars.
Authorities charged Jones in February 2008 with six counts of theft of property, two counts of tampering with evidence and one count of conspiracy to commit theft of property. The conspiracy count against Jones was dismissed in January.
Bogard recused himself at the request of Jones' attorney, Chuck Banks of Little Rock. Banks "expressed his concerns, objections and differences with the court's proposed rulings and with the court's comments regarding its analysis of both fact and law pertinent to the pretrial motions," according to an order filed in Jefferson County Circuit Court on Aug. 31.
- ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
Police identify shooting victim
Little Rock police have identified the man found shot to death Saturday night as Cordero Robinson, 19.
Police found the Little Rock man already dead in the house at 5104 Primrose Lane in the southeast section of the city just before 9:30 p.m.
Police said Monday they have few leads in the case and little information to go on. Robinson's death was the 28th homicide in the city so far in 2009. At the same point in 2008, there had been 31 homicides.
- ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
Men enter pleas in beating death
BENTONVILLE - Two Rogers men pleaded innocent Monday to charges related to an Oklahoma man's death in August.
Clifford Dale Casteel, 33, is charged with second-degree murder while Timothy Sylvester Howell, 26, is charged with hindering apprehension or prosecution.
Benton County Prosecuting Attorney Van Stone said Billy Ray Buckley, 54, of Sapulpa, Okla., died from a beating to his head and torso.
Investigators have said Casteel beat Buckley to death and Howell helped dispose of Buckley's body in an isolated area off Necessary Road.
Buckley's daughter and girlfriend reported him missing, according to court documents. Buckley was last seen Aug. 8 at Casteel's residence.
Casteel told police he didn't intend to kill Buckley and only hit and kicked him after Buckley struck him.
Howell claims he didn't handle the body but drove to the disposal location because Casteel threatened his family. After they arrived at the scene, Howell got out of the car and ran home, according to an affidavit in the case.
Howell was released from the Benton County Jail after posting $75,000 bond.
Casteel is being held in jailin lieu of $150,000 bond.
- BENTON COUNTY DAILY RECORD Interpreter quits, delaying trial
The trial for a South Pacific island man accused of negligent homicide has been reset for Nov. 3 after an interpreter backed out.
Weston Ludrick, 31, was originally set to appear in Washington County Circuit Court on Monday. Ludrick is charged in the death of Miguel Guadarrama-Nava after a four-vehicle accident on Old Missouri Road just south of Emma Avenue in Springdale on Dec. 21.
Washington County deputy prosecuting attorney Dustin Roberts said Sandy Joel, a Marshallese woman who has interpreted in area courts, will interpret for Ludrick. Roberts said the interpreter has the qualifications but the trial delay will allow for follow-up training.
Joel previously worked for the Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts, which supplies interpreters to courts across Arkansas.
She now works for the Marshallese consulate in Springdale.
According to a State Police report, Ludrick's 1995 Pontiac Grand Prix collided with several cars along Old Missouri Road about 12:30 a.m. Dec. 21. Guadarrama-Nava, of Rogers, a passenger in a van driven by Billy Eden, 78, of Springdale, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Ludrick was cited for violation of the implied consent law, driving on a suspended license, reckless driving and other violations.
- NORTHWEST ARKANSAS TIMES Officer faces drug charges
TULSA - Drug charges have been filed against a Tulsa police officer who was arrested last week.
Charges of possession of a controlled drug and possession of drug paraphernalia were filed Monday in Tulsa County District Court against 37-year-old officer Travis Ludwig.
Police say they found cocaine and a scale in a duffel bag Ludwig used to clean out his patrol car.
Police Chief Ron Palmer said the drugs were unexpectedly found during a separate administrative investigation.
Ludwig is currently suspended with pay.
- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Truck sought
in slaying found
OKLAHOMA CITY - Oklahoma City police have found a decommissioned Oklahoma Gas and Electric Co. utility truck believed to have been used in the shooting death of a college student.
Lt. Kevin Barnes said the truck was found Sunday in northwest Oklahoma City.
Police believe the truck carried a group of people who opened fire last Tuesday afternoon on Bradley Wahnee and Rogelio Saavedra.
Wahnee, 19, was killed.
Saavedra was treated and released at a local hospital.
A man wanted in the shooting - Angel Hernandez - was found shot to death Friday in southwest Oklahoma City.
- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Northwest Arkansas, Pages 8 on 09/29/2009