The state/region in brief

Shopkeeper's killer draws life in prison

HARRISON -- A man charged with killing a woman inside her business in Boone County has been sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to capital murder in the case.

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The Harrison Daily Times reported that Donald Clay Biles, 61, was sentenced Tuesday after entering the plea in Boone County Circuit Court.

Biles was charged in the July strangulation of Lorraine Carte, 75, inside Ozark Emporium at Bear Creek Springs. Biles was later arrested near Bergman after a traffic stop.

Biles apologized after his sentencing.

Carte's son, Rick Carte, said the life sentence is the best outcome because he believes a convict sentenced to death could remain on death row for decades.

-- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Killed 2 in Trumann, Jonesboro man says

HARRISBURG -- A Jonesboro man who police said shot and beat a Poinsett County couple to death in 2012 pleaded guilty to two murder charges Tuesday as attorneys began selecting jurors for his trial.

John Anthony Arnoult, 29, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the Sept. 2, 2012, death of Constance "Connie" Cole, 56, of Trumann and second-degree murder in the slaying of John Poff, 57, of Trumann.

Poinsett County Circuit Judge David Laser sentenced Arnoult to 40 years in prison for killing Cole and 20 years in prison for Poff's slaying.

The two sentences will run concurrently, Prosecuting Attorney Scott Ellington said.

Police found the two victims inside Poff's mobile home in Trumann after a trailer-park maintenance man checked on Poff in response to neighbors who reported hearing gunshots. The two died of .40-caliber gunshot wounds and blunt-force trauma.

Ellington said Arnoult entered the plea after Laser ruled on several pretrial defense motions and just before attorneys began seating a jury.

"I think we had a good resolution to the case," Ellington said.

Public Defenders Joseph Perry of Marianna and Danny Glover of Forrest City defended Arnoult. Messages left for them Tuesday were not immediately returned.

-- ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

Gun accident leaves 7-year-old wounded

RAVENDEN -- Police in northeast Arkansas said a 7-year-old boy has been wounded by another boy while target shooting.

Ravenden Police Chief Tim McComas told the Jonesboro Sun on Tuesday that the boy had minor surgery and is expected to make a full recovery. He said the victim and another 7-year-old boy were firing a .22-caliber gun on Sunday while an adult was present.

McComas said the victim walked into the other boy's line of fire and was struck in his lower body.

-- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tulsa lawmen find car used in slayings

TULSA -- Police in Tulsa said they've found the car believed to have been used in last month's shooting deaths of two women at an apartment complex on the city's east side.

Sgt. Dave Walker said the stolen 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix was found last week at another east side apartment complex after police received a tip to Crime Stoppers.

Police said the car was reported stolen the day before Amanda Marie Douglas, 26, and Jennifer Sudar Sanders, 37, were found shot to death Nov. 26 in the parking lot of Bristol Park Apartments.

Police said they believe the car was used to carry the gunman both to and from the scene of the shooting.

-- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

1 held in Oklahoma in toddler's killing

MUSKOGEE, Okla. -- The Muskogee County district attorney says a man has been arrested in the 2011 shooting death of a 2-year-old boy.

The Tulsa World reported authorities arrested the 20-year-old suspect on Tuesday. It's unclear whether he's been charged in the death of Ja'Cion Logan-Ragsdale.

District Attorney Larry Moore said the FBI has been assisting local authorities with the case. He said recently obtained information that linked the man to the slaying but he didn't give details about the evidence.

Muskogee police said the boy's maternal grandmother opened the door to an armed man and his gun fired after a struggle ensued.

Another Muskogee man had been charged with felony murder in the case but was acquitted by a jury in March 2013.

-- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NW News on 12/19/2014

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