State Digest
Ark. medical marijuana panel issues 5 cultivation licenses
LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas' Medical Marijuana Commission has awarded licenses to five cultivation companies after an injunction against issuing the licenses was lifted.
The injunction, which was lifted Tuesday, was issued in March by Pulaski County Circuit Judge Wendell Griffen. He ruled that the award process violated the state's 2016 constitutional amendment legalizing medical marijuana. The state Supreme Court reversed Griffen's decision last month, allowing the state to officially issue the licenses.
Weeks earlier, a letter from the Arkansas attorney general revealed that a member of the commission claimed an unsuccessful applicant tried to bribe him.
The companies that were issued licenses are Natural State Medicinals Cultivation, Bold Team LLC, Natural State Wellness Enterprises, Osage Creek Cultivation, and Delta Medical Cannabis Co.
The commission can issue up to eight licenses.
Arkansas man considered fit to stand trial in mother's death
BENTONVILLE (AP) — A judge has ruled that a northwestern Arkansas man can stand trial on charges he killed his mother.
The Northwest Arkansas DemocratGazette reports Circuit Judge Robin Green ruled Monday that 21-year-old Patrick Malone is fit to stand trial on a capital murder charge.
Court documents show Benton County deputies found 44-year-old Christel Malone dead last summer after Danny Malone called 911 saying his mentally ill son fatally shot his wife. Deputies arrested Patrick Malone and found a gun in a holster.
The affidavit says Patrick Malone told detectives he shot his mother, calling her evil.
Defense attorneys say Malone's judgment is impaired by thought and memory disorders. Dr. Michael Simon evaluated Malone and said he has a learning disorder but can stand trial.
A hearing is scheduled for July 30.
Little Rock officer suspended after aiming BB gun at man
LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Authorities say a Little Rock police officer has been suspended with pay after being accused of aiming a BB gun at a suspect while on duty.
The Arkansas DemocratGazette reports that officer Evan Howell and other officers responded to a call June 16 about a man wielding a BB gun in a T-Mobile store. Authorities say Howell took the gun from the suspect and pointed it at him to demonstrate the difficulty of telling a BB gun from a firearm.
The suspect told police he didn't know whether Howell had the BB gun when the officer pointed the weapon at him.
The remaining officers then escorted Howell from the building. He has been "relieved from duty" while the department conducts an internal investigation.
Howell could not be reached for comment.
Arkansas man accused of repeatedly raping young girl
CAVE CITY (AP) — Court records show an Arkansas man is facing more than 50 counts of rape after admitting to investigators that he repeatedly sexually assaulted a young girl over a two-year period.
Thirty-six-year-old Joey D. Robbins of Cherokee Village was being held Monday at the Sharp County jail. He's also charged with dozens of other counts that include engaging children in sexually explicit conduct.
The mother of a 13-yearold girl notified authorities that the teen had been ordered by Robbins to send him nude photos of herself.
An arrest affidavit says the girl's friend, also 13, was told to send him nude images as well. Robbins admitted to raping the second girl, beginning when she was 10.
The affidavit says Robbins admitted to "making some bad choices."
Jail records don't indicate whether Robbins has an attorney.