The state/region in brief

Jury lowers charge in shotgun murder

RUSSELLVILLE - A jury convicted a Casa man of second-degree murder Wednesday in the May 2012 shooting death of Lee Britton of London.

A.J. Cody, 27, had been charged with first-degree murder and aggravated residential burglary in the shotgun killing of Britton, 65. The Pope County Circuit Court jury deliberated about three hours before acquitting Cody of the burglary charge and convicting him of the less-serious murder charge.

Judge William Pearson followed the jury’s recommendation in sentencing Cody to 20 years in prison.

Second-degree murder carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison under Arkansas law, said Michael Robbins, one of the Cody’s defense attorneys. The jury also could have sentenced Cody to an additional 15 years in prison because of a firearms provision under the law but did not do so, Robbins said.

The defense did not dispute that Cody had killed Britton. Rather, it argued that Cody had done so because a young family member told him that Britton had sexually abused her - an allegation that Robbins said was supported with a “true” finding by the Arkansas State Police division that investigates child-abuse cases and, after Britton’s death, by the state Department of Human Services.

Prosecuting Attorney David Gibbons could not be reached for comment by telephone after normal office hours.

Robbins said that in 1991, Britton was charged with two counts of rape but that the accusing relative in that matter later recanted and the case was dismissed. The department had a true finding in that case as well, Robbins said.

• ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE Father, son cleared in killing attacker

FORT SMITH - Prosecutors have cleared two Fort Smith men of any wrongdoing in the death of a man who broke into their home and killed another person.

Sebastian County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Shue told the Southwest Times Record that Jeffrey Jackson and Justin Jackson were justified in the October death of Eric Christopher Boyd. According to police, Boyd broke into the Jackson home and attacked 24-year-old John Jackson.

John Jackson was the son and brother of the two men cleared by prosecutors.

Authorities allege that Boyd stabbed John Jackson to death. Police said Jeffrey Jackson and his other son, Justin Jackson, put Boyd in a choke hold and hit him. A medical examiner’s report found that Boyd died from strangulation.

• THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Library seeks input on Clinton naming

The Central Arkansas Library System is considering renaming the Children’s Library in honor of Hillary Rodham Clinton.

The library system’s board of trustees is taking public comment on the proposal during the next few weeks, culminating in a public meeting at the Children’s Library on June 27 at noon. The library, at 4800 W. 10th St.

in Little Rock, was finished earlier this year and includes interactive features such asa greenhouse, kitchen, children’s theater and working ecosystem.

Bobby Roberts, executive director of the library system and a former staff member for President Bill Clinton when he was governor of Arkansas, said the proposal comes from a desire to honor the former first lady and secretary of state.

“We started talking about this a couple of years ago, about wanting to do something to honor her and her dedication to education and children,” Roberts said, referring to the library board and staff members.

Roberts said no agreement has been signed, but library officials have been in touch with Clinton’s representatives to discuss the possibility of the renaming if the trustees and public agree to the idea.

Hillary Rodham Clinton’s work with children in Arkansas includes service for the Children’s Defense Fund, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, Arkansas Home Instruction Program for Preschool Youth, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Arkansas Educational System Task Force, Rural Healthy Advisory Committee and “groundbreaking work” as co-chairman of Arkansas Educational Standards Committee.

• ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE 14 youths arrested at Fordyce facility FORDYCE - Fordyce police arrested 14 youths Tuesday night after a fight broke out at a Fordyce center for the mentally disabled.

Fordyce Police Chief Jimmy Vaughn said the incident at Millcreek of Arkansas began as quarreling about 8 p.m., then escalated into a fight. At one point, Vaughn said, “there were about 12 against one.” Vaughn said there were no serious injuries reported, and all those involved had been returned to the facility by Wednesday afternoon.

The Police Department issued citations including disorderly conduct and inciting a riot to terroristic threatening, Vaughn said.

Vaughn said he cannot remember ever responding to an incident “of this magnitude” at Millcreek.

Millcreek Administrator Matt Wiltshire said in an e-mailed statement that he could not comment “due to federal and state regulations regarding patient confidentiality.” However, Wiltshire confirmed that “no patients or staff members were injured, and no weapons were reported or in any way involved.” According to the Millcreek website, the residential facility has a capacity for 61 clients ranging in ages from 6 to 21.

• ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE