James Thomas Arnold, a 38-year-old resident of Potts Camp, Mississippi, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for possessing material depicting child sexual abuse. This sentencing follows an investigation where Arnold was found to have used a peer-to-peer network to download videos and images of children, some under 12 years, involved in sexual abuse.
The sentencing was delivered by U.S. District Court Judge Michael P. Mills, comprising 180 months of imprisonment and a subsequent 10-year supervised release. As a result of his actions, Arnold is mandated to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. Furthermore, Arnold is required to pay $41,500 in restitution to the identified victims.
U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner emphasized the priority of child protection in the office's mission, lauding the collaboration with the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office and the FBI. “We are proud of the partnership with the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office and the FBI that has yet again produced a lengthy sentence for an individual who views children as sexual objects,” Joyner stated.
Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch expressed her office's commitment to prosecuting those who exploit minors. She praised the efforts of cyber-crime investigators in thwarting further harm from Arnold and appreciated the collaboration with the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office.
“The FBI remains committed to protecting our most vulnerable citizens—our children,” commented Robert Eikhoff, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jackson Field Office. “Mr. Arnold's sentencing underscores the seriousness of crimes against children and strengthens our dedication to holding offenders accountable."
The case was handled by the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Roberts and Julie Addison led the prosecution.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. This project coordinates federal, state, and local resources to locate and prosecute individuals engaging in online child exploitation and rescue victims.
For further information on Project Safe Childhood, resources are available at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.