PARAGOULD, Ark. — Cortez Borders was sentenced to 70 years in prison after a Greene County jury found him guilty last week on 10 counts of distributing, possessing, or viewing matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child.
Second Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Sonia F. Hagood announced the conviction in a press release. The jury returned the guilty verdict on April 8, 2026, and Greene County Circuit Judge Melissa Richardson imposed the 70-year sentence.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys Wesley Watts, Bradley McBride and Adam Butler.
According to the release, the investigation began Sept. 8, 2023, when the Jonesboro Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Division received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Investigators found that Borders distributed child sexual abuse material and solicited additional images involving minors through social media, according to the release. Authorities said he later admitted to possessing the material on his phone.
“For the second time this week, this result sends a loud and clear message,” Watts said. “We will never stop fighting to protect child victims in Greene County. We are grateful to the jury for their service and to our law enforcement partners and child advocates—especially Sergeant Chris Pigg with the Jonesboro Police Department—for their work on this case.”
Hagood also expressed appreciation to jurors, law enforcement, and others involved in the case, according to the release.
The Second Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said it remains committed to protecting vulnerable victims, holding offenders accountable and ensuring justice is served in the community.
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