James Hanna, 66, pleads guilty to producing child pornography

Fayetteville, Arkansas - Conner Eldridge, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that James Hanna, age 66, of Japton, Arkansas pleaded guilty today to Producing Child Pornography. United States District Court Judge Jimm Larry Hendren accepted the guilty plea in U.S. District Court in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Hanna faces up to sixty years imprisonment for his crimes. During the plea hearing, Hanna admitted to producing sexually explicit photos of two thirteen (13) year old females.

United States Attorney Eldridge commented, "Preying upon the innocence of a child while hiding behind a computer is one of the most cowardly and detestable crimes imaginable. We will continue to target those who choose to victimize children, and we will prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law."

Madison County Sheriff Phillip Morgan stated, "We thank the United States Attorney's Office and Homeland Security Investigations for working with us to help remove this child predator from the streets of Arkansas. It is great to have a solid working relationship with these other agencies as we strive towards one common goal, and we appreciate all of their help."

"Ending the sexual exploitation of children is a top priority for Homeland Security Investigatons (HSI) and its law enforcement partners," said Raymond R. Parmer, special agent in charge of HSI New Orleans. "While investigating and prosecuting abusers is a key part of this effort, our primary objective is to rescue victims; thankfully these two innocent girls will no longer face such horrific abuse." Parmer oversees a five-state area of responsibility including Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee.

Per court records, in August of 2012, a concerned parent contacted the Madison County Sheriff's Office with information that Hanna had sexually assaulted two thirteen (13) year old females. In response, the Madison County Sheriff's Office interviewed the minors and discovered that Hanna had been taking sexually explicit photos of them at his home. Based on this information, a search warrant was executed at Hanna's residence, which resulted in the confiscation of several computers, digital cameras, and digital storage devices. A subsequent forensic examination of the confiscated items revealed sexually explicit images of the minors.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Madison County Sheriff's Office. Assistant United States Attorney Dustin Roberts prosecuted the case for the United States.

(Source: United Sates Attorney Conner Eldridge)

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