Former Arkansas lawmaker changing plea in corruption cases
Source: Associated Press
Andrew Demillo, Associated Press Updated 5:38 pm CDT, Monday, June 24, 2019
Photo: Danny Johnston, AP
FILE - In this Aug. 18, 2015 file photo, state Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson, R-Benton, speaks at the state Capitol in Little Rock, Ark.. Hutchinson, a former Arkansas lawmaker who is also the governor's nephew, is changing his plea to federal charges he spent thousands of dollars in campaign funds on trips, groceries and other personal expenses. A notice for a change of plea hearing was filed Monday, June 24, 2019, for Hutchinson, who pleaded not guilty in September and had been seeking to have the charges against him dismissed.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A former Arkansas lawmaker who is also the governor's nephew was expected Monday to change his plea in two federal corruption cases as he faced a new charge of accepting bribes in exchange for efforts to change a state dental law.
Change of plea hearings were scheduled for two cases involving former state Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson, who has pleaded not guilty to charges he spent thousands of campaign dollars on personal expenses and that he accepted bribes in exchange for helping a health nonprofit. A hearing is scheduled Tuesday in Little Rock in the campaign spending case, and July 8 in the bribery case in Missouri.
. . .
Federal prosecutors in western Arkansas on Monday charged Hutchinson with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, accusing the ex-lawmaker of accepting more than $157,000 from the co-owner of orthodontic clinics throughout Arkansas in exchange for efforts to change a dental practices law. According to court records, Hutchinson said he wishes to plead guilty and agreed to have the case transferred to the Eastern District of Arkansas, which is handling the case over his campaign spending. Hutchinson waived indictment by a grand jury.
. . .
Federal prosecutors allege that from 2010 through 2017, Hutchinson used campaign money to pay for personal expenses that also included Netflix fees, jewelry, a gym membership and his utility bills. They say he tried to hide by falsifying campaign finance reports and tax filings. Hutchinson's attorneys have argued that the investigation began with an illegal search of his laptop and that evidence on the laptop that would exonerate him was destroyed.
. . .
Hutchinson is the son of former U.S. Sen. Tim Hutchinson and the nephew of Gov. Asa Hutchinson.
Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Former-Arkansas-lawmaker-changing-plea-in-14034526.php
Great Moments in History
Rep. Asa Hutchinson, uncle of Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson, gets down to bidness as an impeachment manager of President Bill Clinton.
= new reply since forum marked as read
are you listening?
