Man, son sentenced for possessing explosives

LITTLE ROCK — An Arkansas man and his son have been sentenced to federal prison for their involvement with explosives.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that U.S. District Judge D. Price Marshall Jr. this week sentenced Peter Mathis to 15 months in prison and his son Steven Mathis to a year and a day. The father and son pleaded guilty in January to a single reduced charge of possessing an unregistered destructive device.

Both sentences fell below the ranges recommended by federal sentencing guidelines, which Marshall said were too harsh for the circumstances.

Authorities arrested the duo in December 2016 for possessing a pipe bomb and an improvised firework. Peter Mathis’ attorney says the men had no malicious intent, but prosecutors say there’s no reason to have the explosives “except to cause harm.”

Police: 2 stabbed during fight at LR shopping mall

LITTLE ROCK — Police say two people were stabbed during a fight involving about a half-dozen people at a Little Rock shopping mall.

Little Rock police Lt. Michael Ford says two people were hurt in the altercation Thursday at Park Plaza mall. Ford tells the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that one wounded person drove herself to a nearby hospital, while the second injured person went to a police station after the stabbing.

He says their injuries aren’t considered life-threatening.

Ford says one suspect is in custody in connection with the stabbing.