An man on trial in Miller County for theft got lucky Tuesday when a jury found him guilty of committing only a misdemeanor for stealing a diamond horseshoe ring.

Miller County Prosecutor Brent Haltom had hoped the jury would find the ring was worth $500 or more and convict Anthony Michael Brown of a felony.

Brown’s defense attorney, John Stroud of Texarkana, argued the ring wasn’t worth as much as the prosecution claimed. The jury agreed and found the ring was valued at less than $500. Under Arkansas law, that makes the theft a misdemeanor.

“He stole someth...