Ex-State Senator, Arkansas College President Plead Not Guilty to Fraud, Money Laundering Charges

Former state Sen. Jon Woods and two other men pleaded not guilty Tuesday afternoon to charges stemming from an alleged kickback scheme involving state grants.  Woods, Ecclesia College President Oren Paris III and consultant Randell G. Shelton Jr. appeared before U.S. Magistrate Erin L. Wiedemann at 1:30 p.m. Woods was indicted on 12 counts of fraud and one of money laundering. Paris and Shelton were each indicted on 10 counts of fraud. The indictments were issued by a federal grand jury March 2.