BENTONVILLE — The attorney for a former Springdale School District bus driver will contest the findings of a court-ordered mental evaluation for his client.
George Thomas O'Dea, 65, of Rogers is charged with 10 counts of distributing, possessing or viewing matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child, a Class C felony. He could be sentenced from three to 10 years in prison on each count if convicted.
Drew Ledbetter, O'Dea's attorney, informed the court on Monday he will contest the findings of the evaluation. Ledbetter has obtained an expert who will interview O'Dea in June for another evaluation.
O'Dea worked as a bus driver for the School District for three years. He resigned his position after his arrest. He was released from the Benton County Jail on a $50,000 bond.
O'Dea, arrested Feb. 12, 2013, was ordered in December to undergo a mental evaluation. The results of that evaluation were not discussed during Monday's proceedings.
Circuit Judge Robin Green ordered the case remain suspended pending completion of the second evaluation. A mental status hearing is scheduled for 8 a.m. July 21.
O'Dea admitted to downloading up to 200 images of pornography every day, according to a probable cause affidavit.
O'Dea admitted to downloading child pornography, but he claimed he didn't do it intentionally and the material was lumped in with other downloads, the affidavit states. O'Dea said he never thought about reporting the images to law enforcement, according to court records.
Deputies went to O'Dea's home where he was found downloading files that appeared pornographic in nature, according to court documents. The affidavit states a forensic examination of one computer hard drive revealed several hundred sexually explicit photographs of children between the ages of 4 and 16.
The photographs included children being photographed nude and engaging in sexual acts, according to court documents.
NW News on 04/08/2014