The state/region in brief

Jury sentences rapist to 40 years

HARRISBURG - A Poinsett County Circuit Court jury sentenced a Harrisburg man to 40 years in prison after convicting him of rape, 2nd Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Scott Ellington said Friday.

John Allen Woods, 39, was convicted Thursday evening after a weeklong trial tried by deputy prosecutors Jimmy Gazaway and David Boling in Harrisburg.

Woods was serving a probation sentence for theft of public benefits when charged with rape, Ellington said. The court revoked his probation, and Woods was sentenced to an additional 20 years in prison, which will be served concurrently.

Woods pleaded guilty in 1997 in Missouri to first-degree child molestation and had served a three-year sentence for that charge, Ellington said.

  • ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

Hospital reports gift of $1 million

Mercy Hospital has scheduled a briefing Monday to provide details of a $1 million donation from the Wal-Mart Foundation to fund a behavioral health program for the elderly.

The hospital said in a news release that, based on a recent market assessment, Northwest Arkansas and southwest Missouri are underserved in behavioral health services for the elderly. The geriatric facility will be on the seventh floor of Mercy Hospital, 2710 Rife Medical Lane in Rogers.

Scott Street, chief executive officer of Mercy Northwest Arkansas, said the decision “represents Mercy fulfilling a commitment to our patients and our community to stay on top of the evolving health care needs, addressing those needs and allowing people to be cared for here in our own community where we tend to feel more comfortable.”

The Wal-Mart Foundation is the retailer’s charitable arm.

  • STEVE PAINTER, ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

Inmate accused

in lockup blaze

STUTTGART - Authorities are investigating after an inmate reportedly set fire to a mattress in a holding cell at the Stuttgart Police Department.

Authorities said 33-yearold Jevon Stigger was being held in a cell Wednesday after he was arrested on suspicion of second-degree criminal mischief and unauthorized use of a vehicle. The Stuttgart Daily Leader reports that Stigger was searched before he was placed in the cell at the Police Department.

Authorities said that the fire broke out Wednesday afternoon and that the Police Department soon filled with black smoke.

Authorities said Stigger apparently found a pair of pants inside the holding cell - and that those pants had a book of matches in the pocket.

Stigger was moved to the Arkansas County jail and authorities said more charges are likely.

  • THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Deputy pursues man into icy lake

CONWAY - Authorities said a Faulkner County sheriff’s deputy is being treated for hypothermia after a foot pursuit moved into chilly waters.

Authorities said Deputy Jonathan Parks initiated a traffic stop at about 4 p.m. Thursday near Conway. The Log Cabin Democrat reports that one of the passengers, who had an outstanding warrant, fled on foot and ran into the Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir.

Authorities said Parks chased the man in the water, where a struggle ensued for more than five minutes. Authorities said the deputy handcuffed the man then carried him on his shoulders from the water to the shore.

Both men were hospitalized for hypothermia. Faulkner County Chief Deputy Matt Rice said both the deputy and suspect are recovering.

  • THE ASSOCIATED PRESSStorm-debris work

to affect U.S. 70

LITTLE ROCK - Officials said there will be temporary road closures along U.S. 70 in Saline County as crews remove winter storm debris.

The state Highway and Transportation Department said the work will be done on each side of the highway weekdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. The project is expected to continue through Thursday, weather permitting.

The cleanup comes after a Christmas Day snow and ice storm toppled trees across much of the state

The storm also left more than a quarter-million Arkansas homes and businesses without power for part of a week.

  • THE ASSOCIATED PRESSAWOL guardsman

charged in fraud

OKLAHOMA CITY - An Oklahoma Army National Guardsman who reportedly wore his military uniform as he went door-to-door asking for donations for wounded soldiers is accused of committing fraud.

The National Guard said Thursday that 20-year-old Pfc. Nicholas Heskett has been AWOL for several months.

Authorities said Heskett wore his military uniform to entice people to give him cash.

Logan County prosecutors have filed two counts of obtaining money or property by false pretenses against Heskett. The crimes allegedly took place in Crescent, Okla., and southern Logan County and may also have occurred in Edmond and Oklahoma City.

A man who identified himself as Heskett’s father said Heskett was not at home and would not provide his name or his son’s whereabouts. He said his son will have his day in court.

  • THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Northwest Arkansas, Pages 10 on 01/26/2013

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