Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Jonesboro man facing charges of child porn

No victims ID’d from area, FBI says

- LINDA SATTER

A Jonesboro man was arraigned Wednesday in a Little Rock federal courtroom on two counts of production of child pornograph­y and one count of attempted production of child pornograph­y.

Justin Palmer, 41, pleaded innocent to both charges before U.S. Magistrate Judge Beth Deere. He is accused of trying to get one minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of that conduct on March 23, and of successful­ly inducing two other minors, on April 4 and April 23, to send him photos or videos of themselves engaged in sexually explicit activity.

“At this point in time, federal investigat­ors have not identified any alleged victims in the northeast Arkansas area,” said Connor Hagan, FBI public affairs officer.

Hagan added, “If our investigat­ion later uncovers victims in Arkansas, FBI victim specialist­s stand ready to assist the victims and their families.”

The penalty for producing and attempting to produce child pornograph­y is 15 years to life in prison. All three charges also carry a potential fine of up to $250,000, and at least five years of supervised release.

An investigat­ion that led to Palmer’s indictment Oct. 8 and his arrest the next day is being conducted by the FBI with assistance from the Jonesboro Police Department, the department’s Internet Crimes Against Children unit and the Arkansas State Police.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Bragg. Palmer is being represente­d by Assistant Federal Public Defender Tamera Deaver.

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