A federal judge has refused to accept a guilty plea from Arkansas' former state treasurer and instead sent her mail-fraud case to trial.
Martha Shoffner tried to plead guilty Monday to a charge accusing her of misspending campaign donations on personal items. But U.S. District Judge Leon Holmes rejected her plea, saying Shoffner didn't admit all elements of the crime.
Shoffner admitted using the campaign money for personal bills - but said that wasn't her intent when she accepted the donations.
It's unusual for a judge to reject a guilty plea, but it's the second time this has happened to Shoffner.
Last year, she tried to plead guilty to bribery in a separate case but Holmes rejected her plea on similar grounds. She was convicted at trial.
