Arkansas Supreme Court Rules in 'Courier' Case

By: JON GAMBRELL The Arkansas Supreme Court has ruled that a legal principle allowing journalists to base their reports on police records protects a newspaper sued over stories it published about an alleged rape.

In a unanimous decision, justices ruled Thursday that the "fair report privilege" covered The Courier newspaper of Russellville. Ryan Whiteside, named in a story over an alleged rape that occurred at his home, argued the newspaper rushed to publish the story as it involved both him and Kevin Jones. The two men had found a beauty queen dead the year before, and Jones was subsequently acquitted of her killing.

A prosecutor later determined that neither Jones nor Whiteside "had any sexual contact" with the alleged victim.

The Courier is owned by Kentucky-based Paxton Media Group.