State briefs
Sen. John Boozman names new chief of staff
LITTLE ROCK — U.S. Sen. John Boozman says his current legislative director will become his new chief of staff.
The Republican senator announced Friday that Toni-Marie Higgins will take over as chief of staff, beginning Oct. 23. She will replace Helen Tolar, who is taking a job in the private sector.
Higgins has served in various roles on Boozman’s staff since joining his team 10 years ago. She has worked as the senator’s legislative director since 2015.
Higgins is a native of Ringwood, New Jersey.
LR man admits attempted enticement of 8-year-old
LITTLE ROCK — Federal prosecutors say a Little Rock man has admitted trying to entice a person he thought was an 8-yearold girl into sexual acts.
David Frazier pleaded guilty Friday in federal court and will be sentenced later. Agents said the 56-year-old man unknowingly communicated with an undercover agent and asked for a photo of her “daughter.” According to the government, the undercover of- ficer sent a photo of herself as an
8-year-old child agent and Frazier took steps to set up a meeting.
Prosecutors said they were told about Frazier by someone who had answered a Craigslist advertisement titled “I know your secret.”
Agents arrested Frazier in September and seized computer thumb drives that included images of child pornography.
Harris faces a prison term of
10 years to life.
Man sentenced to life in prison in toddler’s death
HARRISON — An Arkansas man has been convicted of first-degree murder for the death of a 2-year-old girl and sentenced to life in prison.
Under a plea agreement, 24-year-old Cody Allen pleaded guilty Thursday to causing the death of a child, who suffered severe brain damage in May 2016. He initially faced capital murders charges and the death penalty.
According to court documents, police who responded to a call about an unresponsive child were told that the girl had fallen down a set of stairs. But authorities said the child’s injuries seemed more severe than the explanation given.
Allen was arrested following a
48-hour investigation.
The child’s mother, 21-yearold Anastasia Weaver, also faces charges of manslaughter and permitting child abuse. Her trial date is scheduled for February
22, 2018.
Work begins on upgrades to West Memphis port facilities
WEST MEMPHIS — Officials say a $10.9 million upgrade to West Memphis’ port facilities could attract hundreds of new jobs to the area.
State and local leaders broke ground Thursday on the project to improve rail service to the Port of West Memphis. The Commer
cial Appeal newspaper reports that the project involves the installation of heavier-duty rail and the building of a facility where commodities like steel and timber could be transferred between road and rail.
The project is scheduled to be completed by next March.
City leaders say the project makes West Memphis more attractive to manufacturers and logistics firms because of the port’s proximity to major interstates and railroads.