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| The politicians needed a charity for the tax money to benefit, but churches are not allowed to receive tax money. Ecclesia College calls itself a church, so why did nobody yell fraud at the beginning of this debacle? |
NWA EDITORIAL: Legislative reckoning
Sentencings seek to protect public trust
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In the last two weeks, Arkansans have seen in grim detail the consequences those political predators face -- and should -- when they venture into the swamp. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy L. Brooks used his authority not just to punish the guilty, but to also set a clear example for those who in the future might entertain thoughts of abusing the public's trust.
Former state Sen. Jon Woods, a Republican from Springdale, was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for his role in a scheme to sell his influence and the powers of his public office. He must also pay $1.6 million in restitution and forfeit $1 million in assets to the federal government.
A jury found Woods guilty in May of 15 charges related to kickbacks from state grants he approved. "You were playing chess at a very high level, thinking three or four or five moves ahead," Brooks told Woods. "This wasn't a case of someone offering you a chance to make easy money and you taking it."
Beyond that, Woods was willing to rent out his legislative duties, writing bills for the benefit of himself rather than his constituents. When one $400,000 grant didn't work out and was returned, Woods went to work reallocating it into a scheme to make himself more money, the judge said.
"Your immediate, almost reflexive response was to re-steal the same money," Brooks said. "I find that amazing. I find that a great insight into the depravity of your heart."
Randell Shelton Jr., who aided in Woods' scheme, was next up. He pleaded for leniency, hoping for house arrest so he might watch his newborn child grow. Brooks said deterrence demanded a price: six years in prison and more than $1.2 million in restitution and forfeited assets.
Then, it was Oren Paris III's turn. Paris was the president of Ecclesia College in Springdale, a small private Christian school that in 2013 and 2014 received $550,000 in grants directly from Woods and Neal. Eight other lawmakers -- at Woods' or Neal's urging -- committed another $165,500 to the school. Paris passed some of the money back to Woods and Neal through Shelton's business. Brooks ordered Paris, who changed his innocent plea to guilty the day before his trial was to begin, to spend three years in prison.
Then, Micah Neal's sentencing arrived Thursday. Brooks gave him credit, lots of credit, for his cooperation with authorities in securing convictions of the others. Prosecutors wanted to send a message: If you're guilty of a crime but come forward immediately and truthfully assist in bringing others to justice, there's a benefit.
Neal will spend the next year confined to his home for everything but work, church and medical needs. Two years of probation will follow, but he avoided jail time. Repayment of $200,000 will be required along with 300 hours of community service.
All these men are now convicted felons.
The actions of these four men, and others, have put a dark cloud over Arkansas state government. In the process, they've also brought pain to people who trusted them, whether it's family and friends or voters who believed in them and put them in the positions of responsibility they abused.
None of these men had just a momentary slip mitigated by temporary weakness. Theirs was a complex scheme involving the orchestration of a lot of moving parts. Every day it lasted, they renewed their choices to defraud Arkansas taxpayers.
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| The Paris family tried to make the college their family piggy bank, with all that tax money going only to expand their land holdings. The campus itself remained Third World, some really great students, dedicated faculty, inept leadership. |
