State briefs
DEA agent arrested on bribery, drug charges
LITTLE ROCK — A Drug Enforcement Administration special agent has been arrested on federal bribery and drug conspiracy charges following allegations that he accepted payment from a drug dealer in exchange for information.
U.S. Attorney Cody Hiland said Nathan Koen was arrested Tuesday on a federal complaint that alleged he accepted bribes and helped a drug dealer’s criminal activities for two years. Koen was detained following an appearance before a U.S. magistrate judge.
Koen had worked at the DEA’s Little Rock office since September 2016. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison for the bribery count and up to life in prison for the conspiracy count.
Finance office says revenue rises in November
Eds: APNewsNow. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas finance officials say an increase in sales and income tax collections kept the state’s revenue in November above forecast and the level recorded in November 2017.
The Department of Finance and Administration said Tuesday the state’s net available revenue in November totaled $407.1 million, which is $28.1 million above the same month last year and $11.5 million above forecast. The state’s net revenue so far for the fiscal year that began July 1 is $2.3 billion.
Arkansas’ income tax collections last month exceeded forecast by $7.1 million and were $14.7 million higher than the same month last year. Sales tax collections were $15.2 million above the same month last year and $6 million above forecast. Corporate income tax collections were also above forecast and the same month last year.
County, city officials back tribe’s casino plan
LITTLE ROCK — Local leaders in an Arkansas county are backing an American Indian tribe’s plan to apply for a casino license under a constitutional amendment approved by voters last month.
Pine Bluff Mayor Shirley Washington and Jefferson County Judge Booker Clemons say in letters released Monday that they exclusively support the Downstream Development Authority of the Quapaw Tribe’s casino application. Voters last month approved a measure legalizing casinos in four Arkansas counties.
The proposal legalizes casinos in Jefferson and Pope counties, and at a West Memphis dog track and a Hot Springs horse track. The Pope and Jefferson county casinos must have the support of county leaders as well as the mayor if it’s located in the city.
Man tried in student’s death accused of kidnap attempt
RUSSELLVILLE — A man who was tried twice but never convicted in the 2005 beating death of an Arkansas Tech University student has been arrested on suspicion of attempted kidnapping.
Russellville police say 39-yearold Gary Dunn was arrested Tuesday night after a woman told authorities that a man approached her in a parking lot and tried to force her into a vehicle. Police say a similar encounter happened earlier in the evening involving a different woman.
Police said in a statement that Dunn was arrested after authorities stopped a vehicle matching the description provided by the women. Dunn is being held on $100,000 bond.
Dunn was tried twice for the killing of 19-year-old Nona Dirksmeyer, but juries deadlocked both times. Defense attorneys argued at both trials that Dunn was not the killer.