PARAGOULD, Ark. — A Paragould school employee has been arrested after police say he secretly recorded children without their knowledge.
According to a probable cause affidavit written by Detective Lt. Robert Sexton of the Paragould Police Department, investigators were notified that Dakota Hudson, 24, who works at a local school, was inappropriately recording children.
Hudson was interviewed by police and, after waiving his Miranda rights, made incriminating statements, the affidavit states.
He is accused of two counts of video voyeurism, a Class C felony under Arkansas law, when the alleged victim is under 14 years old.
A.C.A. § 5-16-101
Class C Felony
5-16-101. Crime of video voyeurism.
(a) It is unlawful for a person to use a camera, videotape, photo-optical, photoelectric, or other image recording device for the purpose of secretly observing, viewing, photographing, filming, or videotaping another person who is present in a residence, place of business, school, or other structure, or a room or particular location within that structure, if the other person:
(1) Is in a private area out of public view;
(2) Has a reasonable expectation of privacy; and
(3) Has not consented to the observing, viewing, photographing, filming, or videotaping.
(c)(1) A person who violates subsection (a) of this section upon conviction is guilty of a:
(C) Class C felony if the victim is under fourteen (14) years of age.
Bail was set at $25,000 on Wednesday, Aug. 20. The defendant bailed out of jail the same day.
All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
School board meeting minutes from May 14, 2025, indicate that the Paragould School District hired Hudson as a Primary Title I paraprofessional, effective July 1, 2025. A news feed from the Paragould Primary school’s website shows references to Hudson being employed as far back as last year.
On Wednesday, Aug. 20, the school district’s attorney, Rebecca Worsham, shared the following statement from the superintendent:
The district is aware of the charges filed against a paraprofessional. This individual will be placed on administrative leave. We take all allegations of inappropriate conduct with the utmost seriousness and will conduct a thorough investigation. In accordance with employee protections provided under Arkansas law, the district and its superintendent are unable to provide additional comments at this time.
The school district’s attorney also said that the Paragould Police Department is currently investigating, and parents have been contacted.
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