Ex-Fayetteville AD enters innocent plea
Fayetteville High School’s former athletic director faces 20 years in prison if convicted of Internet stalking of a child.
Barry Dwayne Gebhart, 50, entered an innocent plea during his arraignment before Circuit Judge Robin Green on Tuesday in Bentonville. Gebhart is free on a $75,000 bond.
Gebhart is charged with Internet stalking of a child, a Class B felony. Prosecutors filed the charge before Gebhart’s arraignment.
Gebhart was arrested Oct. 22 at Pinnacle Hills Promenade in Rogers after Benton County sheriff’s office detectives arranged a meeting there. A detective pretending to be a 14-year-old girl communicated with Gebhart for several weeks, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Glenn Latham, a sheriff’s office detective, saw a posting Gebhart made on Whisper, a social networking site. Latham, who is assigned to the Cyber Crimes Unit, began to pose as a girl and interacted with Gebhart, who said he was a teacher, according to the affidavit. Gebhart made several sexual comments and sent a photograph of his penis and several facial photographs to the detective posing as the girl, according to the probable cause affidavit.
Gebhart denied meeting any other underage girls, but he said he texted a girl who was a senior at Fayetteville High School, according to court documents.
Gebhart told detectives he stopped the conversations when he discovered the girl attended the high school. Gebhart also admitted receiving nude photographs from girls but told detectives he immediately deleted the photographs and started asking for non nude photographs, according to court documents.
Gebhart’s computer and other electronic devices were seized so a forensic search of the items could be done. The forensic search hasn’t been completed, according to Stuart Cearley, chief deputy prosecutor.
An omnibus hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. April 7.
- NWA Media
COLLEGE FOOTBALL Razorbacks reinstate Collins
Arkansas tailback Alex Collins has been reinstated to the football program after spending a week on suspension, Coach Bret Bielema said Tuesday.
Bielema said in a statement released through UA athletic spokesman Zack Higbee that Collins “had a great workout Monday and a positive week of suspension in a good way. He’s on track and thinks he can improve in some areas.”
Bielema announced the suspension for an unspecified issue last Monday, pointing out that Collins would not be allowed to participate in weight lifting groups or other team-related activities. Collins was allowed to participate in individual workout sessions with strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert.
Collins, the nation’s top freshman rusher last season, gained 1,026 yards and four touchdowns. He became the second Razorback freshman to top the 1,000-yard mark, joining Darren McFadden, who holds the Arkansas freshman record with 1,113 rushing yards in 2005.
- Tom Murphy
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL Heber Springs promotes Farr to coach
Heber Springs has promoted defensive coordinator David Farr to head coach, according to Brad Reese, the school’s assistant principal.
Farr replaces Steve Janski, who coached the Class 4A Panthers for nine years before leaving in December to become athletic director at Fayetteville.
Farr was an Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All-Arkansas offensive lineman as a senior at Star City in 2002. He played college football at Central Arkansas.
- Robert Yates
Sports, Pages 20 on 02/19/2014