A former Hope, Arkansas man has made a plea deal in a case that would have been re-tried in Howard County Circuit Court. Forty nine year old Melchizedek Shabazz was convicted by jury trial in April of 2017 to 30 years for Delivery of a Controlled Substance. He later made an appeal with the claim that he was denied his Sixth Amendment right to counsel at his suppression hearing. The Arkansas Court of Appeals agreed with that claim and reversed his conviction and remand for retrial.
Shabazz has now plead guilty ahead of his scheduled trial date. Sentencing will include 15 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections plus costs and drug assessment.