Ky. man unearths 2.95- carat diamond at state park

MURFREESBORO — State parks officials say a Kentucky man discovered a nearly 3- carat diamond at Arkansas’ Crater of Diamonds park.

The park says Terry Staggs of Richmond discovered the 2.95- carat champagne brown diamond on July 4. The gem is the largest diamond found so far this year at park in south Arkansas.

Staggs says the gem is the largest he’s found in 28 years of hunting at the state park. He named the gem the Patriot Diamond because he discovered it on Independence Day.

Park Interpreter Waymon Cox says the diamond is shaped like a shield and is about the size of an English pea.

The Crater of Diamonds State Park is the world’s only diamond- producing site open to the public. On average, two

diamonds are found each day at the park.

Man sentenced to 60 years for child pornography

FAYETTEVILLE — A federal judge has sentenced a 67- year- old Madison County man to six decades in prison for producing child pornography.

U. S. Attorney Connor Eldridge said that under the terms of the Monday sentencing, James Hanna of Japton would be under lifetime supervised release if he ever does go free from prison.

Prosecutors say Hanna victimized children as young as 13 and produced images of at least six different minors. Hanna pleaded guilty in January to two counts of producing child pornography.

Madison County sheriff ’ s deputies investigated reports that Hanna engaged in inappropriate conduct with two minors and photographed them. Armed with a search warrant, deputies seized computers and cameras from Hanna’s home. Officials say the equipment contained sexually explicit images of children.

2 killed in Batesville, suspect in custody

BATESVILLE — Two men were shot to death in Batesville and authorities have arrested a suspect.

Sheriff Steve Jeffery says 25- year- old Omar Scales was found dead in a vehicle at a home Saturday evening. Inside the residence, 47- year- old John L. Weemas was found dead with a gunshot wound to the chest.

The Batesville Daily Guard reports a man from Cotton Plant was arrested and was being held pending formal charges.

Scales had been shot in the abdomen. Jeffery says a firearm was found with Weemas’ body.

Investigators say the suspect was seen leaving the scene in a vehicle and was arrested by deputies.

Man found slain in Blytheville home

BLYTHEVILLE — Police in Blytheville say a man found dead in his home was the victim of a homicide.

Investigators say 26- year- old Charles Daniel Goodwin was found dead Sunday night.

Jonesboro television station KAIT reports police were alerted to the body and forced their way into the home after seeing an unresponsive person lying on a bed.

Authorities have not described the cause of death but said Goodwin was the victim of a homicide.

The body was sent to the Arkansas State Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.