Homeless man arrested for allegedly downloading child porn at local hotel
A reportedly homeless man who was allegedly downloading and printing child pornography using a computer provided for guests at a local hotel was arrested on multiple felony charges Wednesday afternoon.
James Christian Bates, 48, who lists “city streets” as his address, was taken into custody shortly before 2 p.m. and charged with four counts of possessing, distributing, or viewing of matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Bates remained in custody Thursday in lieu of a $10,000 bond and a zero bond parole hold and is set to appear today in Garland County District Court. According to court records, Bates had no listed criminal history in Garland County.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Hot Springs police took a report on Wednesday from a local hotel alleging that an unknown man had been using the internet in the business room near the hotel’s lobby for several days.
On Tuesday, a few minutes after the man left the room, another guest using the printer found pho-
tos the man had apparently left, which the guest turned over to the front desk clerk. The photos were described as sexual in nature involving people ranging from children to adults.
When the man returned to the business room on Wednesday, employees confronted him and he reportedly confirmed he was not a guest of the hotel.
Then he “hurriedly left the premises.” The clerk reportedly threw the photos away.
The report was forwarded to detectives on Wednesday, who viewed a photo of the suspect taken by a hotel employee. A description of the man, including his clothing, was broadcast.
Lt. Duane Tarbet was driving on Central Avenue when he spotted a man matching the description and he and Sgt. Scott Lampinen stopped the man, later identified as Bates, at the corner of Central and Trivista Street.
The man gave them the name James C. Bates, but initially gave a false birth date and middle name. When asked if he had been inside the hotel, he reportedly stated he ate breakfast there, but was not a guest. He denied using the hotel’s printer.
Tarbet asked him if he had a cellphone and if he could search him and Bates reportedly agreed. In his wallet, they found ID showing he was James Christian Bates and giving his correct birth date. He then reportedly admitted to lying about his name because he thought he had a warrant for his arrest.
It was determined Bates was on active parole with a search waiver on file. While looking through his wallet, Officer 1st Class Taylor Gates found some folded papers inside. Officers unfolded the papers and determined they were printed photo copies of pornography involving children and adults.
The affidavit notes at least four of the photos were “obviously children under the age of 12,” in violation of state and federal laws. Bates was taken into custody at that point.