PARAGOULD, Ark. — A St. Francis County man is accused of mailing threatening letters under other people’s names to school officials, public servants and others, according to an arrest affidavit signed by Paragould police investigators.
Most of the letters used a local educator’s name and address, resulting in more than a dozen police reports against the educator, investigators alleged.
The affidavit names Cody D. Taylor and lists 135 counts — 62 felonies and 73 misdemeanors. A Sept. 12 court order set his bond at $750,000.
According to the affidavit, letters were mailed between Oct. 1, 2025, and Sept. 5, 2026, to recipients in Paragould and other parts of Arkansas. Several people received letters on multiple occasions.
Investigators described death and kidnapping threats, threats of stalking and sexual acts, and threats to shoot into multiple government buildings. The letters appeared to come from other private citizens, police alleged.
Investigators interviewed people listed as senders and recipients over several months without resolving the case, according to the affidavit.
On Sept. 5, a tip submitted to a local agency contained information consistent with the letters. Investigators obtained an IP address associated with the tip and identified Taylor as its user, the affidavit states. They also reported finding multiple connections between Taylor and people listed as senders and recipients.
On Sept. 11, investigators obtained search warrants for Taylor’s St. Francis County residence and his DNA. When officers arrived, Taylor said he believed they were there because of letters he had been sending, according to the affidavit.
During an interview that day after being advised of his rights, Taylor admitted sending letters to school officials, public servants, private citizens and celebrities while posing as other local people, investigators alleged.
The affidavit lists the following counts:
| Alleged Offense | Counts | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Falsely communicating a terrorist threat | 3 | Class B felony |
| Second-degree forgery | 23 | Class C felony |
| Second-degree stalking | 16 | Class C felony |
| First-degree terroristic threatening | 15 | Class D felony |
| Filing a false report with a law enforcement agency | 5 | Class D felony |
| Harassing communications | 25 | Class A misdemeanor |
| Second-degree criminal impersonation | 23 | Class A misdemeanor |
| Communicating a false alarm | 21 | Class A misdemeanor |
| Third-degree stalking | 4 | Class A misdemeanor |
Greene County District Judge Curtis Hitt found probable cause for Taylor’s arrest in the Sept. 12 order. The $750,000 bond permits surety or another form acceptable to the Greene County sheriff.
Conditions of release include ankle monitoring, no contact with victims, witnesses or others involved in the case, and no possession of weapons. Taylor must also obtain a mental evaluation and follow all treatment recommended as a result, the order states.
All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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