FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) A federal appeals court says the former president of
a private Christian college in northwestern Arkansas who pleaded guilty in a
kickback scheme can proceed with an appeal of his conviction.
The Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports the U.S. 8th Circuit Court of
Appeals ruled Monday that ex-Ecclesia College President Oren Paris III’s appeal
can proceed while evidence involving his co-defendants’ appeals is disputed.
The right to appeal was a condition of his guilty plea.
Paris III and consultant Randell Shelton were accused of funneling cash bribes
in 2013-2014 to then-Sen. Jon Woods and former Rep. Micah Neal. In exchange,
Woods directed over $715,000 in state grants to the college.
Woods and Shelton are appealing their May 3rd convictions.
The disputed evidence involves the federal case against ex-state Sen. Jeremy
Hutchinson.
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