Woman sentenced in spouse’s killing
CONWAY - A Greenbrier woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to a reduced charge of first-degree murder in the 2012 shooting of her husband.
Amanda Ewing, 28, entered the negotiated plea in Faulkner County Circuit Court in the March 21, 2012, death of Billy Joe Ewing, 27. She was sentenced to a total of 55 years in prison, Prosecuting Attorney Cody Hiland said.
Amanda Ewing, who originally was charged with capital murder, followed the lead of her co-defendant and former live-in companion, Clayton Patrick Monsees, 32, of Milwaukee in pleading guilty to first-degree murder.
Monsees, whom authorities described as gravely ill with cancer, entered his plea in January.
Hiland said that Clayton Monsees pulled the trigger but that Ewing conspired with him to kill her husband.
Billy Joe Ewing had just arrived home from work at the Log Cabin Democrat newspaper late March 21, when Monsees fired a .22-caliber rifle, striking the victim in the throat, Hiland has said. Ewing also was stabbed in the shoulder.
Hiland said Amanda Ewing was sentenced to 40 years in the murder, 10 years because the crime was committed in the presence of minors and another five years because of a firearms enhancement.
In Arkansas, first-degree murder is punishable by 10 to 40 years or life in prison. Capital murder is punishable by death or life in prison without parole.
- ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
Trooper of Year took bullet in gut
On a March night in 2012, Arkansas State Police Cpl. Pete Penney stopped a car for speeding on U.S. 278 near Ozan. But this would be no routine traffic stop.
The 66-year-old driver of the car was drunk, had a criminal record and no intention of getting another violation. The man fought with Penney and shot him in the abdomen. Penney shot back, hitting the driver in the hands, legs and chin, and ending the fight. When backup got there, a wounded Penney covered for the assisting officers while they handcuffed the driver.
More than a year later, Penney was named 2012 State Trooper of the Year.
More than 200 Arkansas State Police officers, friends and family gathered Tuesday at Embassy Suites in west Little Rock to recognize troopers, like Penney, who’ve gone “above and beyond” in their work.
More than 30 troopers were recognized at the department’s annual awards ceremony luncheon.
Penney, from Ashdown, has worked with the state police for nine years.
Today, he works for the Highway Patrol Division in Nashville, Ark.
Penney also won the Medal of Valor, which recognizes state police employees for “extraordinary acts of valor and gallantry.” Three other troopers were also recognized.
Cpl. Todd Shaw and Sgt.
Darran Austin were awarded medals of valor for their responses to an April 2012bank robbery in Paragould.
Sgt. Mark Johnson of North Little Rock also won for his work in the pursuit of a suspect wanted in connection with an attempted murder, kidnapping and car theft in October of 2012.
- ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTETest-cheat leader given 7-year term
MEMPHIS - A longtime Memphis educator who helped teachers cheat on certification examinations over a 15-year period was sentenced to seven years in federal prison.
Clarence Mumford, 59, pleaded guilty in February to arranging for people to take Praxis certification tests on behalf of aspiring teachers in Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee. He was sentenced May 13.
Teachers paid Mumford up to $3,000 each to hire ringers to take reading, writing, math, physical education and other exams on their behalf.
The teachers then used the passing scores to get jobs in public school systems.
Mumford, a former guidance counselor and assistant principal in the Memphis City Schools System, paid the test takers hundreds of dollars for each test. Federal prosecutors said he made $120,000 in the scheme, which ran from 1995 to 2010.
- ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTEMotorcycle crash
kills Manila man
A Manila man died Sunday when his motorcycle overturned in Craighead County, according to a preliminary Arkansas State Police accident report.
Gary Morris, 53, was driving a Harley-Davidson motorcycle north on Arkansas 139 in Monette about 10 a.m. Sunday when he veered off the road and rolled into a drainage ditch and was killed, state police said.
- ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTEMan faces charge after jail beating
HOT SPRINGS - A man already charged with attempted murder and kidnapping faces more charges following the severe beating of a Garland County jail inmate.
The Sunday attack left 27-year-old Matthew J. Hale with fractures to bones in his face and other injuries.
Officials say Hale was hospitalized and will need treatment from a specialist to recover from the injuries.
The Sentinel-Record reported 23-year-old James Elijah West is charged in the beating. He and another man were already jailed on aggravated robbery, kidnapping and other charges.
Hale was in custody awaiting trial on robbery and theft charges in three convenience store robberies.
West was charged in the beating on Monday.
The fight took place inside a cell and was broken up by guards.
- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Northwest Arkansas, Pages 8 on 05/23/2013