Pine Bluff Alderman Wants Conviction Thrown Out
By: Import User
Updated: January 7, 2009
A Pine Bluff alderman convicted in an
extortion case in federal court wants his conviction thrown out.
Jack Foster claims prosecutors failed to prove he committed a
crime eligible for prosecution in federal court.
A jury convicted Foster of an extortion-related count in
September. Prosecutors say he accepted money from an undercover
agent and an investor in exchange for a zoning vote.
Foster was indicted by a federal grand jury last year along with
then-Alderman Billy Freeman. Freeman has pleaded guilty in the
case.
After his conviction, Foster refused to relinquish his city
council seat and continued as a Pine Bluff mayoral candidate. He
finished sixth in a field of eight in the November second 2 general
election. He says he should not have to resign from the council
until his appeals are exhausted.
