Ozan man accused of stalking child via internet
A 22-year-old Ozan, Ark., man was arrested on Valentine’s Day on a charge of internet stalking of a child, according to Hempstead, Ark., County Sheriff James Singleton.
The arrest of Adam Walker was part of an undercover investigation that started Jan. 6. “Hempstead County investigators began an undercover operation into the allegations a 22-year-old male from Hope was trying to entice a 15-year-old female to meet him for sex via Facebook Messenger and the internet,” Singleton said.
“Officers posing as the 15-yearold female began to have conversations with the 22-year-old suspect on his Facebook Messenger account. Multiple messages were sent to the undercover officer from the suspect asking for a sexual encounter over the next several days,” he said.
Walker allegedly sent a message to the undercover officer wanting to meet at a local motel in Hope for sex. On Feb. 14, members of the 8th North Task Force and Hempstead County Sheriff’s Office were waiting there to take him into custody.
“Agents discovered the suspect was in Ashdown, Ark., when they received a message from the suspect stating he was in Ashdown and would be on his way to Hope to meet who he thought was a 15-year-old female,” Singleton said.
“Task force agents were able to contact Ashdown police and give them a location of the suspect in Ashdown. When Ashdown police arrived at that location, Walker was still sending messages to who he thought was the 15-year-old over his phone. Ashdown police took Walker into custody and confiscated his phone,” he said.
Walker was transferred to the Hempstead County Detention Center in Hope, where he was booked for alleged internet stalking of a child, a class Y felony, which carries a potential sentence of 10 to 40 years in prison or life. He awaits his first court appearance.