A federal judge on Wednesday dismissed pending mail fraud charges against former state Treasurer Martha Shoffner, canceling a trial that had been set for next year and setting the stage for sentencing on earlier convictions.
Shoffner was set to go to trial in February, her second trial after being found guilty in March of 14 separate counts of bribery and extortion.
But U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas Christopher Thyer on Tuesday asked that the 10 mail fraud counts against Shoffner be dropped, saying a conviction would not likely have a significant impact on the sentencing for the earlier convictions.
In a filing earlier Wednesday, Shoffner's attorney said she was "grateful" for the move to drop the pending counts. U.S. District Judge J. Leon Holmes granted the request to drop the charges about two hours later and directed the probation office to begin preparing a report that will be used when Shoffner is sentenced.
The mail-fraud charges centered on allegations Shoffner used campaign donations for personal expenses.
Holmes had set the February trial date after a plea deal fell apart during a hearing earlier this month. Shoffner in that proceeding acknowledged improperly using campaign contributions, but said she did not solicit the money intending to misuse it. Holmes said acknowledging that would be required for her to admit guilt.
In her response to the government's decision to dismiss the counts, Shoffner said she is "welcomes and is grateful for" the decision and "also welcomes the beginning of the process resulting in this Court setting a final sentencing hearing date."
Thyer said the allegations behind the mail-fraud charges will be brought up during the sentencing phase for the bribery and extortion convictions.
Shoffner's filing asked Holmes to accept the dismissed counts and noted "any objections to the United States’ presentation of evidence at sentencing will be reserved until that time."
Shoffner resigned in May 2013 days after her arrest.