LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin issued a statement today regarding the arrest of Austin Norris, 28, of Watts, Oklahoma, on a federal count of receiving or distributing material involving the sexual exploitation of a minor.
“This arrest stems from an investigation by my office that began with a tip to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. A special agent from my office investigating the case is also a task force officer with Homeland Security Investigations and worked with federal authorities to arrest Norris, who recently moved from Arkansas to Oklahoma," Griffin stated.
“I offer my thanks to agents with HSI Fayetteville and HSI Tulsa, and troopers with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol for working with my office’s Special Investigations Division on this arrest. It takes a team effort to fight the reprehensible crime of sexually exploiting our children.”
Norris was arrested on September 9 on a federal arrest warrant for violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(A)(2) – Certain activities relating to material involving the sexual exploitation of minors. A search warrant was also served at his residence. After his arrest, Norris’ digital devices were seized.
Norris is being held without bond in the Tulsa County jail, where he will be turned over to the U.S. Marshals Service and transported to federal court in Little Rock.
Attorney General Tim Griffin was sworn in as the 57th Attorney General of Arkansas on January 10, 2023. He previously served as Lieutenant Governor from 2015-2023 and as representative of Arkansas’s Second Congressional District from 2011-2015. Griffin has been an officer in the U.S. Army Reserve Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps for more than 28 years and currently holds the rank of colonel.
Griffin's career includes roles such as Commander of various Legal Operations Detachments within JAG Corps, Senior Legislative Advisor at the Pentagon, U.S. Attorney for Eastern District of Arkansas, and several positions under President George W. Bush's administration.
Griffin graduated from Magnolia High School, Hendrix College in Conway, Tulane Law School in New Orleans, and attended graduate school at Oxford University.
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