County judge sanctioned

The Arkansas Ethics Commission sanctioned County Judge Terry Ott of Marion County for a violation of state ethics law by fining him $250 and giving him a public letter of reprimand, commission Director Graham Sloan said Friday.

But Ott’s attorney, Matt Campbell of Little Rock, said he expects to appeal the commission’s ruling in Pulaski County Circuit Court on Monday.

Sloan said the commission found that Ott violated Arkansas Code Annotated 21-8-304 (A) as Marion County judge by using or attempting to use his official position to secure special privileges or exemptions for people covered under that law with regard to hiring Marion County road foreman Art Sasser or Sasser’s trucking company to haul dirt to the Marion County Fairgrounds. Ott is a Republican.

Under this law, public officials are barred from using or attempting to use their position to secure special privileges or exemptions for themselves or their spouse, child, parents or other people standing in the first degree of relationship, or for those with whom the public officials have a substantial financial relationship that is unavailable to others, except as may be otherwise provided by law.

The five-member commission found by a 4-0 vote that Ott violated state law, with commissioner Tony Juneau of Rogers absent, Sloan said. The other commissioners are retired University of Central Arkansas administrator Robert McCormack of Conway, animal rescue group executive director Ashley Driver Younger of Little Rock, retired educator Sybil Jordan Hampton of Little Rock and former state Sen. Sharon Trust, R-Russellville. Juneau is an attorney.

Campbell said: “The decision was what we expected, not because Judge Ott did anything wrong, but because the Ethics Commission does not even attempt to actually apply statutes in a way that makes any sense to anyone but them. We will be appealing to circuit court, and we anticipate filing the petition for review on Monday.”

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