Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Hutchinson faced 25 charges, admits 3

- — Lisa Hammersly

Federal prosecutor­s in Arkansas and Missouri in the past year charged former Arkansas Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson with 25 criminal counts, including bribery, political corruption and filing false tax returns.

In court appearance­s in the past two weeks, the Little Rock Republican has pleaded guilty to three counts. Prosecutor­s have agreed to drop 22 at sentencing.

GUILTY PLEAS

June 25 — Pleads guilty to two charges in U.S. District Court in Little Rock.

■ 1 count, filing a false federal income tax return. (Eastern district, Arkansas)

■ 1 count, conspiring to commit bribery, involving payments from an unnamed orthodonti­st who sought favorable legislatio­n. (Western district, Arkansas)

Monday — Pleads guilty to one charge in federal court in Springfiel­d, Mo. ■ 1 count, conspiracy to commit federal program bribery, in an alleged scheme with former executives of Preferred Family Healthcare Inc. of Missouri, a nonprofit provider of behavioral health care to Arkansas Medicaid patients. (Western district, Missouri)

CHARGES PROSECUTOR­S AGREED TO DISMISS

Eastern District, Arkansas

■ 8 counts, wire fraud, in connection with illegal campaign contributi­on spending.

■ 3 counts, filing false federal income tax returns that under-reported income.

Western District, Missouri

■ 3 counts, theft from an organizati­on receiving federal funds (Preferred Family Healthcare).

■ 1 count, receipt of bribes concerning programs receiving federal funds.

■ 7 counts, honest services wire fraud.

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