Defendants in kickbacks case involving former Arkansas senator try again for dismissal:
"FAYETTEVILLE -- Defendants in the corruption case involving former state Sen. Jon Woods filed notice Thursday that they will appeal U.S. District Judge Timothy Brooks' refusal to dismiss the charges.
Woods, 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.
Brooks' released his ruling to allow the charges to stand in a court order last week.
The appeal will be lodged with the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Appeals taken while a case is pending typically result in the case being delayed. The trial is scheduled to begin April 9.
The three defendants have pleaded innocent. They face up to 20 years in prison on the fraud and conspiracy charges, if convicted. Woods faces an additional 10 years on the money-laundering charge, if convicted."
'via Blog this'
