Man convicted in pedestrian’s death
HOT SPRINGS - A man who fatally struck a pedestrian while driving drunk last year was convicted late Thursday of charges including negligent homicide after a two-day trial in Garland County Circuit Court.
A nine-woman, three man jury deliberated for about an hour before convicting Danny Roy “Heavy” Jones, 48, of felony first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor and misdemeanor counts of negligent homicide, driving while intoxicated, second offense, and refusal to submit.
The jury deliberated for another hour before recommending a sentence of 60 days of community service and a $3,000 fine for the DWI, with $6,500 in total fines.
Jones, who was represented by attorney Sky Tapp, was initially charged with a felony count of negligent homicide, punishable by as many as 20 years in prison, but the charge was amended Tuesday to a misdemeanor count.
Prosecuting Attorney Steve Oliver said Friday that Jones was first charged with a felony because the medical examiner had ruled based on misinformation that it was a hit-and-run accident. After clarifying that Jones had never left the scene, it was amended to a misdemeanor.
Oliver said it was also noted that most victims would likely have survived the injuries suffered by the victim, James Hipkins, 75, but he died of the injuries because of his age and some pre-existing medical conditions.
- HOT SPRINGS SENTINEL-RECORD
Woman run over; unborn baby dies
SEARCY - Authorities in White County have charged a man in the death of a fetus after he purportedly ran over his girlfriend and she lost the baby she was carrying.
Police arrested 30-yearold Robert Jones of Searcy on charges of driving while intoxicated, domestic battery and negligent homicide after the Wednesday night assault.
Little Rock television station KTHV-TV, Channel 11, reports Jones was driving the car with the victim as the passenger when they began to argue.
The 30-year-old woman was ejected from the vehicle and run over.
Chief Deputy Phillip Miller said the woman was about 20 weeks into her pregnancy. He said it’s unclear whether she was pushed, jumped or fell from the car.
Jones has a July 2 court date. It’s unclear whether he has a lawyer.
The woman was hospitalized in stable condition.
- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Man to stand trial for 1997 slaying
SALLISAW, Okla. - A judge has ruled there is enough evidence to put a Sallisaw, Okla., man on trial for a 1997 beating death during a robbery.
During a preliminary hearing Friday, Sequoyah County Special Judge Larry Langley ordered 38-yearold Rex Richard Robbins III to be tried on a first-degree murder charge. He is accused in the death of 28-year-old Mitchell Dayne Nixon.
The Southwest Times Record reports another man purportedly involved in the incident has died, and a third suspect is in federal prison.
Robbins has been held without bond at the Sequoyah County jail since his March 6 arrest.
The cold case was reopened two years ago. Robbins spoke to investigators in March and purportedly described all three men attacking the victim.
- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Bald eagle killed; suspects sought
SALLISAW, Okla. - U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service officers are working to learn the circumstances under which a bald eagle died.
Officials said Friday that the dead eagle was found at a motel in Sallisaw, Okla.
Fort Smith television station KHBS reported that investigators said the raptor’s talons and tail feathers had been removed. Feathers from the eagle’s wings were also gone.
A reward of as much as $2,500 is being offered for information leading to a conviction in the death and mutilation of the eagle.
Investigators said the bird was about 3 years old - a juvenile. It is now yet known how the bird died.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service.
Bald eagles are protected under federal law.
- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Crowder College president to retire
NEOSHO, Mo. - Crowder College President Alan Marble said he will retire from the school on June 30.
Marble has been president of the school in Neosho, Mo., for 27 years.
In a statement released by the college Monday, Marble cited the public school retirement system and other job opportunities as factors in his decision.
The Joplin Globe reported that while Marble was president, Crowder’s enrollment nearly doubled in six years, and several construction projects were completed.
The school also implemented bachelor’s degrees in conjunction with Missouri Southern State University and Missouri State University.
- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Events to honor Battle of Helena
Two battle re-enactments, lectures, tours of historic properties, musical performances and living history demonstrations are scheduled during a three-day commemoration of the Civil War’s Battle of Helena to be held Friday-Sunday in Helena-West Helena.
The 150th anniversary of the battle will be July 4.
The Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission, the Delta Cultural Center and Helena-West Helena Advertising and Promotion Commission are the commemoration’s sponsors.
Tom Dupree, Sesquicentennial Commission chairman, called the 1863 fight “one of the key battles of the war in Arkansas.”
A complete schedule of the weekend events is available at arkansascivilwar150.
com/events.
- ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
Northwest Arkansas, Pages 12 on 05/21/2013