Former Arkansas judge found guilty of making false statements

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(The Center Square) – A federal jury found a former Arkansas judge guilty of making false statements to the FBI, the Department of Justice said.

Thomas David Carruth, 64, is a former Monroe County District Court judge, according to the Justice Department. The charge stems from an incident in April 2022 when Carruth allegedly solicited sex from the girlfriend of a defendant being tried in his court.

Carruth lied to the FBI when asked about the incident, the Justice Department said in a release. Previous information from the DOJ said that Carruth asked for sex in exchange for expediting the defendant's trial.

The maximum sentence for a false statement charge is five years in prison. A sentencing date has not been set.

The jury acquitted Carruth of charges of charges of bribery, honest services fraud, and violations of the Travel Act. He could have faced up to 20 years in prison on the top counts, according to the Department of Justice.

Carruth was arrested in January 2023, according to a previous release.