No conflict, bribery case's judge decides

A potential conflict of interests cited last week by U.S. Department of Justice attorneys who are prosecuting businessman Ted Suhl in a federal bribery conspiracy case was resolved Tuesday.

ADVERTISEMENT

More headlines

Suhl of Warm Springs and Steven B. Jones of Marion agreed on the record Tuesday before U.S. District Judge Billy Roy Wilson of Little Rock that they didn't have a problem with attorney Charles Banks' representation of Suhl even though Banks once met with Jones to consider representing him in what became the same case.

Jones, a former deputy director of the state Department of Human Services, is serving a 21/2-year federal prison sentence after pleading guilty to accepting bribes from Suhl to perform official acts on behalf of Suhl's mental-health businesses. He is expected to be one of the government's main witnesses against Suhl, whose jury trial is set to begin July 12 in Wilson's Little Rock courtroom.

Justice Department attorneys had raised concerns that Banks, of Little Rock, may have learned confidential information during his consultation with Jones that could be used against Jones during his cross-examination at Suhl's trial.

Banks, however, said his consultation with Jones in 2012 was private and would remain private. He also said he has never talked to Suhl or other defense attorneys for Suhl about meeting with Jones.

Federal prosecutors were worried about legal ramifications if Jones didn't waive his right to conflict-free counsel. But after a brief hearing Tuesday, Wilson found that a conflict doesn't exist.

Metro on 06/29/2016

Upcoming Events