Trial scheduled for former Fayetteville athletic director

Monday, May 5, 2014

A September jury trial was scheduled Monday in the Internet stalking case of the Fayetteville School District's former athletic director.

Affidavit

http://www.nwaonlin…">Read the probable cause affidavit

Barry Dwayne Gebhart, 50 is charged with Internet stalking of a child, a Class B felony, which is punishable with a prison sentence ranging from five to 20 years. He previously pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Judge Robin Green scheduled Gebhart's jury trial to begin Sept. 30.

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.

A detective saw a posting Gebhart made on Whisper, a social networking application. The Cyber Crimes detective began to pose as a 14-year-old girl, and interacted with Gebhart , who said he was a teacher, according to the court documents. 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.

A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for Sept. 29.

Gebhart is free on a $75,000 bond.