Arkansas man, 75, who called himself 'evil monster' sentenced in child-porn case

FORT SMITH -- A 75-year-old Alma man has been sentenced to five years in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to charges of receipt and possession of child pornography.

In addition to the prison term on the two charges against Jerry Wayne Johnson, Western Arkansas Chief U.S. District Judge P.K. Holmes III levied a $5,200 special assessment and ordered him to pay $15,000 restitution. Some of the child victims in the pornographic images can be identified through a nationwide data base to receive compensation, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

"'I know what you're here for,'" Johnson told federal agents who showed up at his home on Georgia Ridge Road on the morning of Oct. 6, 2016, according to an affidavit filed in federal court. He offered to take agents to '"to where it is.'"

Agents found more than 12,000 images and more than 150 videos of child pornography on his computer, including children younger than 12 engaged in explicit sexual conduct, according to his plea agreement with the government.

Johnson admitted to downloading images and videos of child pornography for several years, the affidavit said, and referred to himself as an "evil monster."

Fort Smith special agents for Homeland Security Investigations and Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force began an investigation in August and found child pornography was downloaded to an Internet address that was determined to be assigned to Johnson.

He pleaded guilty to the charges in March.

State Desk on 10/17/2017

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