Hot Springs sex offender accused of exchanging explicit photos with teen girl

Chester Douglas Manning
Chester Douglas Manning

An Arkansas sex offender faces 100 felony counts involving child pornography after police said he and a 15-year-old Pennsylvania girl exchanged explicit photos.

Chester Douglas Manning, 36, of Hot Springs was arrested Saturday in the 800 block of Central Avenue and charged with 100 counts of distributing, possessing or viewing of matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Pennsylvania detectives contacted Hot Springs authorities in May about a report filed there by a Jeannette, Pa. resident who said his 15-year-old daughter and a man identified as Chester Manning were sending text messages and exchanging explicit photos over several weeks.

The youth reported meeting the man through Google Hangouts, an online chat platform. The affidavit notes Manning is a level 3 registered sex offender residing in Hot Springs.

On May 24, Manning was arrested on a charge of failure to comply with registration and reporting requirements after failing to disclose certain social media accounts when he registered with police on March 29, authorities said. His phone was seized as evidence.

A search of Manning's phone revealed more than 100 photos of the 15-year-old girl in different states of nudity, the affidavit said. Sexually explicit photos of Manning, which he is accused of sending to the teen, were also found on the phone, police said.

A detective reported finding one text message where Manning made an obscene sexual comment to the girl and referred to her as a 15-year-old and "my little daughter."

The affidavit notes Manning and the juvenile have never met each other and prior to the text messages had never had a conversation.

Manning remained in the Garland County jail on Tuesday with bail set at $250,000.

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