Lowell Man Sentenced To 20 years

BENTONVILLE — A Lowell man was sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to possessing child pornography.

Casey Ferguson, 21, took a plea deal reached by Stuart Cearley, Benton County chief deputy prosecutor, with attorney Alison Helms. Brad Karren, Benton County circuit judge, accepted the agreement and Ferguson’s guilty pleas.

Ferguson pleaded guilty to 10 counts of distributing, possession or viewing matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child, a class C felony. He was arrested May 1, 2011.

A Springdale detective downloaded images of child pornography, and authorities were able to trace it back to Ferguson’s computer internet protocol address. The case was handed to the Benton County Sheriff’s Office because it had jurisdiction.

Sheriff’s Office deputies searched Ferguson’s home. Ferguson was told 23 photographs and two videos containing child pornography had been downloaded. Ferguson admitted he downloaded the material, according to court documents.

Deputies also seized two computers and a thumb drive. Eighty-five child pornography images and 10 videos were found on the computers, according to court documents.

Ferguson was sentenced to 20 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction. He must abide by a suspended sentence agreement for 10 years after his release from prison. Ferguson must participate in the prison’s sex offender treatment program, must register as a sex offender and cannot have any unsupervised contact with minors.

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