Hope man, 21, nabbed on child porn charge

An Ashdown, Ark., mother of a 14-year-old girl allegedly found a 21-year-old man hiding under her daughter’s bed.

Jack Cornell Jr., 21, of Hope, Ark., was arrested on a felony charge of “possessing matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child.”

The charge is a class C felony with a potential sentence of zero to six years in prison or a maximum fine of $10,000.

The incident allegedly occurred about 1 a.m. Aug. 23 at an Ashdown residence.

The arrest affidavit said Cornell admitted to having sex with the 14-year-old. The girl reportedly told him she was 16 years old, but she was actually 14.

Ashdown Police Sgt. Zane Butler found a cellphone allegedly belonging to Cornell. A search warrant was issued, and two video clips were confiscated allegedly showing Cornell having sex with the girl.

Cornell reportedly said he took the videos.

The report said Cornell videoed the sexual encounter, but it was the idea of the 14-year-old.

Under Arkansas law, it is illegal for a person to possess matter which depicts sexually explicit conduct involving a child, specifically defined as any person under age 17, according to the arrest report.

Cornell was released from the Little River County jail Sept. 6 on $250 bond.

The man was arrested on a felony charge of “possessing matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child.”