Man Guilty of Child Rape Gets 35 Years in Prison

PARAGOULD, Ark. – Second Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Sonia F. Hagood announced that John Paul Barron, 72, pled guilty on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, to four counts of rape and was sentenced to serve 35 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections on each count.

On Tuesday, November 19, 2024, Circuit Judge Barbara Halsey followed and accepted the terms of a negotiated guilty plea and imposed a 35-year imprisonment term on each count.

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Greene County Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys Adam Butler, Wesley Watts, and Bradley McBride prosecuted the case. The plea came after a Greene County jury had been empaneled but before Barron’s trial was to begin.

“This verdict should send a message, once again, that we will never stop fighting to protect rape victims in Greene County and the entire Second Judicial District,” said Butler. “The plea results in what is effectively a life sentence given the defendant’s age.”

Originating from Barron’s arrest on March 4, 2024, by the Greene County Sheriff’s Department, this case exemplifies the importance of meticulous investigations. “The bravery displayed by the victims in disclosing the abuse they endured speaks volumes, and this verdict is a direct result of their courage,” said Deputy Prosecutor Adam Butler.

On January 12, 2024, Greene County Sheriff’s Office detectives received a report of rape from a minor victim. The victim stated that John Barron had touched her vagina multiple times over the course of six years, beginning when she was 11 years old.

After Barron’s arrest, an additional victim came forward to detail similar acts that Barron committed against her under similar circumstances.

“I want to thank our law enforcement partners, especially Sgt. Ashten Jackson and the Greene County Sheriff’s Department, for their investigation and support during this trial,” Butler said. “Their commitment to seeking justice for victims of sexual abuse is commendable.”

press release