Ex-Boyfriend Accused of Sexual Extortion and Stalking in Jonesboro

JONESBORO, Ark. — An ex-boyfriend is accused of stalking a woman, cutting her tire, and trying to extort her with unlawful distribution of sexual images in Jonesboro.

According to the probable cause affidavit, on Sept. 17, the alleged victim came to the Jonesboro Police Department to report that her ex-boyfriend, whom she recently left, had been constantly contacting her and threatening to post nude photos of her on Facebook. The woman also learned that the ex, Auston Drake Presley, had allegedly posted two nude photos of her on his Snapchat story. Another person reported to her that they saw the photos.

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The victim became very distraught while she spoke to the police, the detective wrote. She provided a surveillance video of a vehicle belonging to Presley driving into the parking lot of her business. A subject gets out of the driver’s side, walks to her vehicle, and kneels next to the passenger side of the vehicle. The woman later learned her tire was cut.

The affidavit states that the victim also received photos of her vehicle at the place of business, showing that Presley was outside. She blocked all communication from him.

The victim provided screenshots of the Snapchat profile allegedly used by Presley, and the story photos containing the naked photos.

Police were shown messages that were exchanged on Facebook Messenger. The affidavit alleges that Presley was threatening to post more nude photos unless she went back to him. Detective Andy Starnes wrote that he confirmed the Facebook profile to belong to Presley.

Auston Drake Presley, 19, is facing charges including sexual extortion, a Class B felony, which carries 5 to 20 years in prison if convicted. He also faces Class A misdemeanors for third-degree stalking, first-degree criminal mischief, and unlawful distribution of sexual images or recordings. All of those charges carry up to a year in the county jail.

On Friday, District Judge Tommy Fowler set bail at $100,000 cash-only, noting the seriousness of the charges. A no-contact order was issued, and a GPS ankle monitor will be required if the suspect makes bail.

His next court date is October 30.

(a) A person commits the offense of sexual extortion if:

• (1) With the purpose to coerce another person to engage in sexual contact or sexually explicit conduct, the person communicates a threat to:
  • (A) Damage the property or harm the reputation of the other person; or
  • (B) Produce or distribute a recording of the other person engaged in sexually explicit conduct or depicted in a state of nudity;

• (2) With the purpose to produce or distribute a recording of a person in a state of nudity or engaged in sexually explicit conduct, the person communicates a threat to:
  • (A) Damage the property or harm the reputation of the other person; or
  • (B) Produce or distribute a recording of the other person engaged in sexually explicit conduct or depicted in a state of nudity;

• (3) The person knowingly causes another person to engage in sexual contact or sexually explicit conduct or to produce or distribute a recording of a person in a state of nudity or engaged in sexually explicit conduct by communicating a threat to:
  • (A) Damage the property or harm the reputation of the other person; or
  • (B) Produce or distribute a recording of the other person engaged in sexually explicit conduct or depicted in a state of nudity; or

(4) The person knowingly demands payment of money or receipt of anything of value by communicating a threat to distribute a recording of a person engaged in sexually explicit conduct or depicted in a state of nudity.

(b) Sexual extortion is a Class B felony.

AR Code § 5-14-113 (2024)

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.