POCAHONTAS, Ark. — A former Pocahontas Police Department officer arrested in 2024 following an investigation into alleged child sexual abuse material has now been found guilty and sentenced to 30 years in prison, according to reporting by the Pocahontas Star Herald.
The Pocahontas Police Department previously announced that Arthur Cocherell Jr. was terminated from his position after an internal investigation conducted in collaboration with the Arkansas State Police and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force based in Jonesboro.
Authorities said the investigation began in late June 2024. On Sept. 19, 2024, the Pocahontas Police Department issued a warrant for Cocherell’s arrest under Arkansas Code §§ 5-27-602 and 5-27-603, which pertain to the possession, distribution, and/or viewing of child sexual abuse material.
Cocherell turned himself in to authorities on Sept. 23, 2024, at approximately 7:30 a.m. He later appeared in Randolph County District Court, where his bond was set at $25,000.
According to the Pocahontas Star Herald, a jury of 12, six men and six women, was sent to deliberate just before 2 p.m. Wednesday after hearing evidence and testimony in the case. Jurors were tasked with deciding three counts of possessing or viewing matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child.
Shortly after deliberations began, the jury returned a verdict, finding Cocherell guilty on all three counts.
He was then sentenced to 10 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections for each count and fined $3,500 per count. The sentences will run consecutively, resulting in a total of 30 years in prison.
Cocherell was taken into custody immediately following sentencing.
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