Former northwest Arkansas developer Brandon Barber is scheduled to appear in federal court in Fort Smith on Wednesday afternoon, and the docket indicates that he plans to change his not guilty pleas in both federal indictments that are pending against him.
A co-defendant in one of the cases, Brandon Rains, is also scheduled to change his previous not guilty plea on Wednesday. Barber's hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. before U.S. District Judge P.K. Holmes, and Rains is scheduled to change his plea at 3:30 p.m.
Barber has been in the Washington County jail for more than a month after his bond was revoked for repeatedly violating the terms of his release.
Holmes signed the orders setting Wednesday's hearings and canceling the trials that had been scheduled.
A trial had been set for Sept. 16 in a case alleging money laundering and bankruptcy fraud by Barber and two co-defendants, his former attorney K. Vaughn Knight and a business associate, James Van Doren. Van Doren's request to be tried separately was denied.
Another trial was set for Oct. 21; in that one, Barber was to be tried with Rains, Jeff Whorton and David Fisher on charges of bank fraud and money laundering. Fisher has asked to be tried separately.
Earlier today: Brandon Barber, Vaughn Knight Hit With Lawsuit by Co-Defendant James Van Doren
