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Bella Vista Man Sentenced To 75 Months Without Parole For Child Porn

FORT SMITH (KFSM) – A Bella Vista man was sentenced to a little over six years in prison for child pornography, according to a news release from U.S. Atto...
David Eckles

FORT SMITH (KFSM) – A Bella Vista man was sentenced to a little over six years in prison for child pornography, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas Conner Eldridge.

David Eckles, 29, was sentenced before Judge P.K. Holmes, III in Fort Smith to a total of 75 months in prison without parole, the release states. When he gets out of prison, he will have five years of supervised release.

In March of 2014, special agents with the Department of Homeland Security were investigating online trafficking of child porn in Northwest Arkansas when they executed a federal search warrant at the home of Eckles, according to court documents.

Investigators entered the residence and seized a large amount of digital equipment, including computers, CDs and hard drives. Eckles was interviewed by authorities and admitted to using the Internet to search for and download child porn, court documents state.

In July of 2014, he pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography, according to court documents. At the sentencing, the federal government provided proof that the minors depicted in the pornography possessed by Eckles ranged in age from toddler to teenager, court documents state.

U.S. Attorney Eldridge stated, “Cases involving children are among the highest priorities of our office, and we will not rest until justice is served on their behalf.  Every time a video or image involving sexual abuse of children is downloaded or viewed, these innocent children are re-victimized.  Together with these investigating agencies, we will continue to work tenaciously to expose this type of abhorrent activity and bring these predators to justice.”

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