Defense rests for ex-Arkansas legislator accused of fraud

Attorneys on Friday finished their defense for former state Sen. Jon Woods (R), who is accused of taking kickbacks in exchange for directing state grants to two nonprofits.

Woods told the judge he did not plan to testify. Woods' co-defendant, Randell Shelton, was to begin his defense next.

Woods was indicted in March 2017, accused of a kickback scheme involving state General Improvement Fund grants issued in 2013 and 2014. Two alleged co-conspirators — Shelton, formerly of Alma, and Oren Paris III, former president of Ecclesia College in Springdale — were indicted with Woods.

Paris pleaded guilty April 4 to one count of conspiracy and agreed to testify for the government. He was not called before the government rested its case Wednesday, but he may testify for the defense. In a hearing Friday morning away from the jury, defense attorneys told U.S. District Judge Timothy L. Brooks they are in talks with Paris' attorneys on whether he will be called as a defense witness.

Read more: http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2018/apr/27/ex-arkansas-legislators-attorneys-finish-defense-k/