LITTLE ROCK — A white supremacist charged in an attack on an interracial couple's home near Hardy plead guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court just before the second day of his trial was to begin.
The trial for Gary Dodson, 32, began with jury selection Tuesday afternoon and opening statements were slated to start Wednesday morning.
Instead, U.S. District Judge Bill Wilson questioned Dodson about a plea deal reached with prosecutors. He then tentatively accepted the deal, which included dropping two of the five charges against Dodson.
Wilson said the agreement did not specify a suggested sentence. Dodson faces up to 30 years in prison and a $750,000 fine.
Dodson - who has admitted being a leader in a white supremacist group - orchestrated the Jan. 14 attack with three others. The men made molotov cocktails and then threw the incendiary devices at the home and later yelled racial slurs at the couple, prosecutors said.
One of the incendiary devices went through a window and caught fire, but no one was hurt.
Authorities say Dodson and co-defendant Jason Barnwell were white supremacist leaders and the other two men - Dustin Hammond and Jake Murphy - were recruits into their skinhead organizations. Prosecutors alleged the attack was planned because the male victim had flirted with Barnwell's girlfriend months earlier and because the attackers didn't approve of an interracial couple.
After hearing a summary of the evidence in the case, Dodson told Wilson it was "about 85 percent accurate." He then said all the information pertaining to him was correct and that he had plotted and participated in the attack.
Barnwell, Hammond and Murphy pleaded guilty in the case earlier this year.
Dodson pleaded guilty to charges of conspiring to violate the civil rights of another individual, aiding and abetting an attempt to intimidate with use of a dangerous weapon and fire and aiding and abetting possession of an unregistered firearm. Charges of using fire in the commission of a felony and possession of an possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence were dropped.
Wilson during the hearing set a sentencing date of April 20, 2012.
Adolf Hitler was born on April 20, 1889 and some white supremacist groups commemorate the anniversary. Reached after the hearing, Wilson said he "had no idea in the world" and that it being the sentencing date was coincidental.
Wilson said later that he had decided to change the date, setting it for April 6.
Dodson, who appeared before Wilson in orange jail jumpsuit and with his legs shackled, will remain in custody pending the sentencing.