Arkansas man pleads guilty to child-porn charges

— A Madison County man pleaded guilty Monday to producing sexually explicit photographs of two 13-year-old girls, U.S. Attorney Conner Eldridge has announced.

James Hanna, 66, will now face up to 60 years in prison, the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Arkansas said in a statement.

Court records show a tip from a concerned parent in August that claimed Hanna sexually assaulted two minors ultimately led to a search of Hanna's home, which resulted in the discovery of sexually explicit images of minors.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported in September that investigators found 800 images classified as child pornography.

Hanna was the owner of the Japton Store on Arkansas 295 and lived in an apartment connected to the store.

Hanna was originally charged with four counts of rape, three counts of manufacturing child pornography, three counts of sexual indecency with minors and 50 counts of possession of child pornography.

"Preying upon the innocence of a child while hiding behind a computer is one of the most cowardly and detestable crimes imaginable," Eldridge said in the statement, adding that Homeland Security and the Madison County sheriff's office worked together on the investigation.

ADVERTISEMENT

More headlines

Upcoming Events