Garland County judges recuse from lawmaker’s tax case

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HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) _ All four circuit court judges in Garland County have recused themselves from a felony case filed against a state lawmaker accused of not filing an income tax return for 15 years.

Rep. Mickey Gates surrendered to authorities last month and was released from jail on $1,500 bond. The Sentinel-Record reports the judges have asked the Arkansas Supreme Court to appoint a special judge from outside the county to hear the case.

Gates is charged with not filing returns from 2012 through 2017, but authorities say he hadn’t filed one since 2003. The statute of limitations for failing for file or pay returns is six years.

An attorney for Gates has said Gates was surprised by the charges and had been cooperating with authorities in trying to pay the back taxes.

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