$500,000 Bond Set for Paragould Man Accused of Sharing Child Sexual Abuse Video

PARAGOULD, Ark. — A Paragould man is accused of sharing a video containing child sexual abuse material through Kik, according to a Greene County affidavit that led a judge to authorize an arrest warrant and set a $500,000 surety bond.

Jeremy W. Harlan is named in the affidavit signed Oct. 15 by Paragould Police Detective Sgt. Jacob L. Higdon. The document lists two Class C felony counts involving sexually explicit material depicting a child.

CyberTip Leads to Investigation

Paragould police received a CyberTipline report Sept. 29 from Arkansas State Police’s Internet Crimes Against Children unit, according to the affidavit. The report originated with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and concerned an account reported for sharing a video containing child sexual abuse material.

The report alleged a Kik account shared the video in January. The center provided investigators with the video and information about the account that sent it, Higdon wrote.

According to the affidavit, the video depicts a child engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

Higdon wrote that the email address, username and IP address associated with the account were linked to Harlan. Investigators confirmed the identifying information through Kik, Paragould Municipal Utilities and other databases, the affidavit states.

Two Felony Allegations and Release Conditions

The affidavit cites Arkansas Code 5-27-304, concerning pandering or possessing visual or print material depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child, and 5-27-602, described in the document’s statutory text as distributing, possessing or viewing such material. Each count is listed as a Class C felony.

Judge Curtis Hitt found probable cause for Harlan’s arrest and set bond at $500,000 surety. The Oct. 15 order requires him to comply with ankle monitor requirements and prohibits contact with any minor, internet access and possession of electronic devices that can access the internet.

He remained incarcerated as of this post.

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