Court denies appeal in ex-Arkansas legislator's corruption case

FAYETTEVILLE — A federal appeals court has refused to hear an appeal of an order to dismiss filed by defendants in the corruption case involving a former Arkansas state senator, the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported.

Former state Sen. Jon Woods (R), Oren Paris III, and Randell G. Shelton sought to have charges against them dismissed because FBI special agent Robert Cessario had a hard drive of a laptop computer used in the investigation erased after being ordered to turn it over for inspection in a evidence-related dispute.

U.S. District Judge Timothy Brooks’ refused to dismiss the charges, and the appeal to the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals followed.

A three-judge panel Tuesday denied the appeal in a two-sentence ruling.

Read more: http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2018/mar/20/court-denies-appeal-ex-arkansas-legislators-corrup/