JONESBORO, Ark. — A Jonesboro man is facing serious charges after authorities say he distributed child sexual abuse material nearly 100 times across several platforms.
According to a press release from the Jonesboro Police Department, the Internet Crimes Against Children Division began investigating Matthew Layton after receiving a cyber tip on Nov. 5, 2024. The tip, passed from Dropbox to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and then to the Arkansas State Police, included 13 videos showing juvenile females engaged in sexual acts. One video reportedly depicted bestiality, according to the probable cause affidavit.
Investigators traced the uploads to an email account and username connected to Layton. The videos had been moved or added to the Dropbox account between January 2018 and October 2023. IP addresses linked to the uploads led detectives to residences on Shasta Drive and later Bedrock Drive in Jonesboro. Surveillance confirmed that Layton had moved to the Bedrock address.
Further cyber tips from Medialab/Kik and AOL accounts matched the same IP addresses. Subpoenas to Ritter Communications confirmed that the IP addresses originated from Layton’s current address. Authorities also uncovered GPS searches, emails, and photos tying Layton to the child sexual abuse material and confirming his identity.
On April 17, officers executed a search warrant at both the Bedrock and Shasta residences, seizing multiple electronic devices. Layton was taken into custody.
Police said that, in total, Layton is believed to have distributed child sexual abuse material approximately 94 times.
As of his appearance in court on Friday, Layton faced 30 charges. Judge Tommy Fowler noted that could increase, based on the affidavit. Bail was set at $100,000 cash or surety with a GPS ankle monitor and an order that Layton not be in contact with any juveniles or use the internet.
All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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