Gun possession nets 15 years for Jonesboro moan

JONESBORO — A man who had been convicted of gun-related crimes in four different counties in Arkansas was sentenced Thursday to 15 years in a federal prison following his latest arrest.

Kevin L. Brown, 41, of Jonesboro pleaded guilty March 20 in U.S. District Court to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

On Thursday, Judge James M. Moody Jr. imposed the prison sentence. He will remain on supervised release for three years following the end of his sentence.

Court documents show Jonesboro police went to Brown's residence to serve a new felony warrant on Brown. The officers found Brown hiding in he attic, and during a search of the residence, found a shotgun.

Court records showed Brown had previously been convicted of violent crimes in Poinsett, Mississippi, Perry and Pulaski counties.

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ROCK RAPIDS, Iowa — The mother of a child who prosecutors say was murdered in Little Rock has pleaded not guilty to the charges against her.

Court records indicate 25year-old Sydney Schneidermann of Little Rock was arrested on August 31st on first-degree murder and child endangerment charges. Court documents indicate she did an online search for “shaken baby syndrome” on her cell phone three days before taking her baby boy to the hospital in Rock Rapids on September 10th of last year.

Tests in the emergency room found the baby’s vital signs were normal and the infant was released that night, but

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was back in the ER the next day in critical condition. The baby was flown to a hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he died two weeks later.

At this time, she faces a pretrial conference in November, but that could be pushed back.

Court documents say 27year-old Brenann Schneidermann, the baby’s father, has been charged with child endangerment causing death.

Investigators say his wife sent him a screenshot of her research on “shaken baby syndrome” three days before her first trip to the hospital and his “lack of action to protect” the boy contributed to his death.

He faces arraignment on the charge on Monday, September 23rd.

An autopsy revealed the infant had fractured ribs and brain trauma. Doctors in Sioux Falls say the child’s brain swelled and bruising on his neck was consistent with child abuse.

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Governor announces $70 million expansion at Des Arc plant

DES ARC – Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced a new economic development at an Arkansas munitions plant at a news conference on Friday.

Officials joined the governor to announce that White River Energetics, LLC in Des Arc, was adding 90,000 square feet to its existing 14,000square-foot facility.

Sanders said the expansion represents a $70 million investment and is expected to add 100 jobs.

Arkansas Economic Development Commission gives out $8.5 million in funding to 17 grant recipients “I’m proud of the 100 new jobs and the $70 million investment we are announcing in a small town in Arkansas that I know will have a big impact,” Sanders said.

White River Energetics manufactures ammunition primers.

Sanders said the firm has 125 employees, of whom 73 were hired in the past year.

Company officials said the investment is to meet market demand, as a worldwide shortage of smokeless propellant is affecting global munition availability.

The relationship between the firm and Arkansas came from a meeting at the annual SHOT Show in Las Vegas earlier this year, the governor said.

SHOT is a large trade show for the gun and outdoor industries.

Russellville plant announces $60 million expansion, new jobs The governor touted the state’s low taxes and education with an emphasis on technical education and strong support for the Second Amendment, making Arkansas attractive to firearms-related industries in making the announcement.

Arkansas Economic Development Commission executive director Clint O’Neal echoed Sanders’s statement about the importance of ammunition and firearms manufacturing as an Arkansas industry.

“Congratulations to White River Energetics and to the City of Des Arc on this successful economic development project,“ O’Neal said.

“This project hits the sweet spot in Arkansas: the growth of the firearms and ammunition industry led by innovative entrepreneurs, which is resulting in new jobs and investment in a rural community.”

Dassault Falcon Jet announces major expansion of Little Rock operation, adding 800 jobs According to the corporate website, White River Energetics is a whollyowned subsidiary of D& M Holding Company, an ammunition manufacturer headquartered in Tampa, Florida, with a manufacturing site in Cabot.