A University of Arkansas-Fort Smith professor pleaded not guilty Monday in a federal child pornography case, said Connor Eldridge, U.S. District Attorney in Fort Smith.
Travis Brown remained in jail Monday (Feb. 10) without bond after being arrested Thursday on suspicion of child pornography, according to a Sebastian County Detention Center booking report. Brown, 44, is being held for federal authorities, according to the Sebastian County Sheriff's Office.
The university declined to say on Monday whether Brown has been fired or suspended.
"We are cooperating fully with authorities, be we can't comment because this is a personnel issue," said UAFS spokeswoman Sondra LaMar.
A federal Grand Jury issued an indictment Jan. 29 against Brown on suspicion of four counts of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. While searching Brown's home, federal investigators discovered 629 images of children aged 10 to 12 years old, Eldridge said. Many of those images were of girls, he said.
Brown's arrest concluded a five-month investigation by Arkansas State Police and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Eldridge said.
Brown was an assistant professor of graphic design at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith's College of Humanities and Social Sciences, according to a faculty page on the university's website.
The professor is no longer employed at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith, according to Sondra LaMar, director of public relations for the campus.