Nicholas Harper of Bella Vista was sentenced in federal court Wednesday to more than 10 years in prison without parole after he pleaded guilty last year to a charge of receiving child pornography, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.
Harper, 27, also was fined $20,000 during a plea hearing in federal court in Fayetteville before U.S. District Judge Timothy Brooks.
Harper initially was charged in an indictment with four counts of receiving child pornography and one count of possession of about 3,600 images of child pornography, a news release from the U.S. attorney stated. Three other charges were dismissed Wednesday, according to court records.
Harper’s plea agreement in the case stated that in August 2012, members of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force conducting undercover investigations identified a computer in Bella Vista as containing child pornography.
Officers went to that address on Sept. 17, 2012, and checked that computer but found no child pornography on it, according to the plea agreement.
The officers discovered that the residence had an unsecured wireless network that allowed others outside the residence access to the Internet. The plea agreement stated officers conducted a “knock-andtalk” of the neighboring homesand interviewed Harper, who lived across the street from the residence officers initially checked.
According to the plea agreement, Harper admitted to downloading child pornography using a computer officers found in his truck. He pleaded guilty to the single charge in June.
Northwest Arkansas, Pages 11 on 04/04/2014