Former state Rep. Micah Neal pleaded guilty Jan. 4 to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, admitting he took two kickbacks totaling $38,000 in exchange for directing grants from the state General Improvement Fund to two nonprofit entities. Stories in the March 4, March 28, March 29, April 1, April 20 and April 25 gave incorrect numbers of counts.
Former state Sen. Jon Woods was indicted in mid-April and charged with 14 counts of wire fraud, one count of mail fraud and one count of money laundering. Oren Paris III, president of Ecclesia College in Spring-dale, and Randell Shelton Jr., a consultant, were each indicted on 13 counts of wire fraud and one count of mail fraud. Stories in April 20, April 25, June 2 and June 14 gave incorrect numbers of charges.