A former deputy director of the Arkansas Department of Human Services has pleaded guilty to providing official assistance in exchange for bribes from the owner of two mental health companies.
Federal officials announced Thursday that 49-year-old Steven B. Jones had pleaded guilty to conspiracy and bribery charges. Jones, of Marion, will be sentenced April 2, 2015.
According to his plea agreement, Jones solicited and accepted multiple cash payments and other things of value from the owner of two businesses that provided inpatient and outpatient mental health services to juveniles.
This individual provided the payments and other valuables to Jones through the use of two intermediaries- a local pastor and a former county probation officer and city councilman.
