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| Oren Paris III pled the Fifth Amendment. |
Defense for ex-Arkansas senator closes its case; former college president asserts right against self-incrimination:
"After a lunch recess, the defense told Brooks that Paris would exercise his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination if called to testify. Brooks said he understood but the court needed to take testimony on that and would call Paris in after the jury left the courtroom.
Paris pleaded guilty April 4 to one count of conspiracy and agreed to testify for the government. He was not called before the government rested its case Wednesday. The government will have two witnesses for rebuttal after Shelton's defense rests, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Elser told Brooks. Neither is Paris.
Paris resigned as Ecclesia's president and from the private, Christian college's board before his plea. His sentence is pending.
Paris disguised the kickbacks as consulting fees paid to Shelton's company, Paradigm Strategic Consulting, according to the indictment. Shelton then passed the money along to Woods and former state Rep. Micah Neal of Springdale, the government contends.
Paris was sent in after the jury was dismissed for a recess. Paris asserted his Fifth Amendment right on the second question from Atwell: What his occupation was. The first question was his name.
The kickback allegations involve $550,000 of the more than $717,500 in state General Improvement Fund grants Ecclesia received from 2013 through 2014, the U.S. Department of Justice contends."
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