Madison County deputies arrested James Daniel Hannah on suspicion of producing pornographic videos and photographs of at least three local females under the age of 16, said Capt. Robert Boyd Wednesday. A fourth victim might also have been involved, Boyd said.
"We just hope that more will come forward when the word gets out that he`s been arrested," said Madison County Sheriff Phillip Morgan.
The 66-year-old Hannah, who owns the Japton Grocery and Farm Supply store, was arrested about 4 p.m. Tuesday after deputies received information from the parents of victims that he was producing child pornography, Boyd said.
Deputies said the case has been under investigation for more than a year.
The incident has been a shock to many in the small community east of Fayetteville.
"Well it`s just so hard to believe, really really hard to believe," said Nell Harriman.
"It`s a shock to me, it really is. Everybody seemed to like him real well," said another area resident, Fay Harriman.
Boyd described the Japton store on Arkansas 295 as a "country community store."
People in the community said Hannah opened the store about five years ago, and it's the only place to get groceries for miles.
According to a news release from the Sheriff's Office, Hannah faces 50 counts of possessing child pornography, three counts manufacturing child pornography, four counts of rape, three counts of sexual indecency with minors and additional charges.
Deputies seized several laptop computers, boxes of pornographic images of "young nude females," digital cameras and video tapes, according to the news release.
On the Madison County Sheriff's website, Hannah's name is spelled "Hanna," but Boyd said the correct spelling is "Hannah."