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Arkansas Lawmaker Pleads Guilty To Conspiracy Charge

Micah Neal

Prosecutors say an Arkansas lawmaker set to leave office next week has pleaded guilty to conspiracy for arranging bribes while he was a member of the state House.

The U.S. Attorney's office says 42-year-old Republican Rep. Micah Neal of Springdale pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud. A sentencing date was not announced.

A phone call to a number listed for Neal was not immediately returned.

Neal admitted that between 2013 and 2015, while a state representative, he conspired with a state senator to appropriate money to nonprofit organizations in exchange for bribes. Neal received about $38,000 as a result of his actions.

The name of the senator wasn't revealed.

Neal served two terms in the House but did not seek re-election last year.

This story has been corrected to show that Neal will remain a member of the Arkansas House until new members are sworn in next Monday.

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