State Digest

Human remains found in pipe at Little Rock park

LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Police have discovered human remains at a Little Rock park while investigating the 2015 disappearance of a teenager who was last seen in the area.

Little Rock Police spokesman Officer Steve Moore says cold case investigators had been following up Tuesday on Ebby Steppach's disappearance when they found the skeletal remains in an underground drainage pipe at Chalamont Park. The pipe opens near where police found Steppach's car days after she was reported missing in October 2015 when she was 18.

Moore says authorities last searched the park in November 2016, but were following up using "gut instinct."

The state Crime Lab will examine the remains before police officially confirm the identity.

Moore says police have notified Steppach's family about the discovery. A family representative says they're waiting for identity confirmation before speaking on the matter.

Rapper must forfeit guns held before Little Rock shooting

LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A Tennessee rapper who pleaded guilty to a weapons charge in Arkansas after he was arrested with a gun following a shooting at a Little Rock nightclub is being ordered to surrender his weapons.

A federal judge on Wednesday order Ricky Hampton, who performs as "Finese2Tymes," to give the government two pistols and ammunition.

Hampton pleaded guilty in March to possessing a gun at an eastern Arkansas club about a week before the July 1 shooting at Little Rock's Power Ultra Lounge. He was performing at the Little Rock club on July 1 when the shooting that injured 25 began and was not charged in that shooting.

Hampton faces up to 10 years in prison for possessing a gun at an eastern Arkansas club about a week before the shooting in Little Rock.

Arkansas doctor acquitted for 8 sexual assault counts

CONWAY (AP) — A jury has found a central Arkansas doctor not guilty of eight counts of sexual assault.

A judge has also declared a mistrial on eight other sexual assault counts against Dr. Robert Rook after the Faulkner County jury couldn't reach a decision on those charges.

The Tuesday verdict comes after the 63-year-old Conway physician was accused of sexually assaulting more than a dozen women. Two former patients testified that Rook fondled them under the guise of a breast exam they didn't request. Another testified Rook behaved inappropriately during breast and pelvic exams.

Rook's attorney argued that accusers didn't have physical evidence to convict the physician.

Prosecutor Jason Barrett says he plans "to talk with the victims, whose counts are still viable" and later determine how to proceed.