FAYETTEVILLE -- A Springdale man was sentenced to 60 years in federal prison without the possibility of parole Thursday for sexually exploiting a minor and possessing child pornography.
Jason Ellis, 37, pleaded guilty in May to two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor via production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
Ellis also was sentenced to lifetime supervision if he's ever released from prison.
The mother of a 13-year-old girl told Springdale police in February that Ellis had been molesting her daughter. The girl was subsequently interviewed at the Children's Safety Center in Springdale and said Ellis had been sexually abusing her since she was about 7, according to court documents. The girl said in many instances Ellis would either video or take pictures of the abuse.
Police found a hard drive in Ellis' home Feb. 8 containing photos of Ellis sexually abusing the girl. He was arrested on multiple counts of rape and sexual assault.
Ellis was indicted by a federal grand jury in March.
The case was investigated by the Springdale Police Department, the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce and the Department of Homeland Security. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin Roberts prosecuted the case for the United States.
U.S. District Judge Tim Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing.
NW News on 09/15/2017