Paris, Shelton ordered to report to jail

Federal judge denies requests

A federal judge in Fayetteville on Friday denied requests by former Ecclesia College President Oren Paris and consultant Randell Shelton to remain free while they appeal convictions related to public corruption charges.

U.S. District Judge Timothy Brooks ordered Shelton to report to a federal Bureau of Prisons facility at 1 p.m. Monday, the date set when Shelton was sentenced earlier this year on 12 felony counts.

Paris, who pleaded guilty to one count but reserved the right to appeal, must report to a federal prison by 1 p.m. Wednesday, according to the judge’s order.

The two were accused of funneling cash bribes to former state Sen. Jon Woods, R-Springdale, in exchange for Woods’ directing more than $715,000 in state General Improvement Fund grants to Ecclesia.

The opinion issued late Friday doesn’t disclose the names or locations of the federal prisons where Paris and Shelton will begin their sentences.

Shelton was sentenced Sept. 6 to 72 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He is to pay $660,698 in restitution, a separate $664,000 money judgment and a $1,200 special assessment.

Paris was sentenced Sept. 12 to 36 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He must pay $621,500 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.

Woods, who with Shelton was convicted by a federal jury in May, started serving his prison sentence of 18 years and four months on Sept. 26 at a facility in Fort Worth. Brooks earlier denied Woods’ request to remain free while appealing his conviction. Woods also is ordered to pay $1.6 million in restitution, forfeit $1 million in assets, and pay a $1,500 special assessment.