Urban Renewal theft nets 35-year term

A special judge in the Second Division of the 11th West Circuit Court sentenced Rodrick Morris to 35 years in state prison Thursday following his conviction on 79 of 82 counts related to accepting $667,384 from the Pine Bluff Urban Renewal Agency for asbestos abatement work he did not perform.

Judge Robert Edwards of Searcy handed down seven fiveyear sentences — one for each Class B theft-of-property felony of accepting $25,000 or more — to run consecutively, and five-year sentences for the other 31 theft-of-property counts to run concurrently. Morris, 44, of Houston, was also found guilty Wednesday on 41 counts of second-degree forgery and ordered Wednesday to pay fines of more than $7,000 for each count.

The sentence from Edwards was longer than the jury’s recommendation that Morris serve five years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections for each theft-of-property count and that those sentences run concurrently. The panel of nine women and three men also recommended Morris pay a fine of $7,240 each for the first three forgery counts and $7,995 for each of the other 38 forgery counts, for a total of $325,520. Morris was acquitted on three forgery counts, and prosecutors removed two others.

In addition, Morris is required to pay $667,000 in restitution after 90 days of his release from prison. He will be eligible for transfer from the Department of Corrections to the Division of Community Correction after serving one-sixth, or 70 months, of his sentence.

“We’re satisfied with that,” Prosecuting Attorney Kyle Hunter said. “We think that’s a good verdict and a good sentence, in this particular case. I’d like to thank the state police, which did a great job in investigating this case, also deputy prosecutor Joe West, who helped me try this case and Shana Alexander, who was also very instrumental in the case. We’re glad we could get this case done and a resolution made.”

A bailiff handcuffed Morris, dressed in a light blue dress shirt and slacks, following sentencing and escorted him out of the

courtroom.

The judge’s decision to elongate Morris’ sentence from the jury’s recommendation caused frustration among Morris’ family members, high school classmates and other supporters, many of whom struggled to contain their emotion outside of the courtroom.

“This was a very important case for the city of Pine Bluff,” Hunter said. “When the verdict of guilty came in to the 79 counts, that was a good verdict. Always in the Arkansas system, whether the sentences are to run concurrent and consecutive, the court did advise the jury whatever they recommended, it was his decision whether to run those consecutive or concurrent.”

Edwards called Morris and his lawyer, Jimmy Morris Jr., to the podium for sentencing, a day after they were allowed to remain seated while the judge read the verdict for each of the 82 adjudicated counts.

“I can’t ignore you had an accomplice who was a precipitant in the matter,” Edwards told Rodrick Morris, referring to Maurice Taggart, the former executive director of Urban Renewal who was charged similarly to Morris in the case but was shot to death at his home last Aug. 30.

“The theft of property of more than $600,000 that happened for more than two years, if it were a one-time spur-of-a-moment thing, that might be considered,” Edwards continued. “From what I had seen, it wasn’t the case. You could have said no to the accomplice at any moment. I think I am considering what is an appropriate sentence based on factors.”

Edwards added, while strongly considering the jury’s wishes, he didn’t think a five-year prison sentence that would have made Morris parole-eligible in 10 months was justice.

“This may shock the conscience of 12 jurors who tried to fashion a sentence of five years,” attorney Morris told Edwards, pleading with the judge to consider the recommendation. Edwards said he informed jurors the court would not be bound to the recommendation.

“I am following the law,” Edwards said, to which attorney Morris responded: “You are not following the spirit of it.”

Rodrick Morris, who chose not to testify, told the judge: “I’m the one that’s got to do 35 years. My concern is that you understand that the intent to defraud the city of Pine Bluff, my hometown, was nondirect. It was to my understanding everything (regarding abatement work) was done. They never stopped sending checks. No one called me to tell me there was a problem. To me, everything was going as it should.

“I’ve got two kids, a 9-yearold and a 10-year-old, who won’t see me, all because of what someone else did.”

Rodrick Morris also accused those involved with the disputed transactions of not conducting their checks and balances, including former Pine Bluff Police Chief Lloyd Franklin Sr., who testified each invoice supposedly from Morris that he examined was valid. Franklin said he would have trusted Taggart. Franklin was treasurer of the Urban Renewal Agency’s board.

“Had everyone done their job, there’s no scheme,” Rodrick Morris said. “I’m the only one holding the bag after everyone else, all because someone presumed I knew what was going on.”

Hunter said findings related to the shooting that killed Taggart will be released “very soon.”

Asked for a time frame, Hunter responded: “I don’t want to put a date on it.”