Possible witnesses in ex-Arkansas lawmaker's trial include 2 constitutional officers, several legislators:
"Potential witnesses named so far include state Auditor Andrea Lea, state Treasurer Dennis Milligan and state Republican Party Chairman Doyle Webb.
Current and former lawmakers, some of whom directed Improvement Fund grants to the college, were also on the list. They include Sen. Bart Hester, R-Cave Springs; state Sen. Bryan King, R-Green Forest; state Rep. Bob Ballinger, R-Berryville; state Rep. Charlie Collins, R-Fayetteville; state Rep. Dan Douglas, R-Bentonville and former state Rep. Duncan Baird, R- Lowell, who is now with the state Department of Finance and Administration.
Ten current or former legislators directed state grants to Ecclesia College from 2013 through March 2015 totaling $617,500. The figure doesn’t include $100,000 the college received where records are unclear who gave the money."
Paris pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of fraud, prompting Woods' attorney, Patrick Benca, to ask U.S. District Judge Timothy Brooks for a delay in the trial. Brooks denied the motion in a pretrial hearing later Wednesday but said he would consider written motions for delay later if the defense encounters problems it cannot overcome.
Paris has agreed to testify for the government against his former co-defendants. He pleaded guilty to transferring $50,000 of $200,000 in grant money from Woods and Neal to Shelton. Shelton sent $40,000 of the money to Woods as a kickback, according to Paris' plea.
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