Jonesboro, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – A Newport man is being held on a $1 million cash/surety bond after police said he arranged to meet an underage victim to have sex.
On Aug. 25, Jonesboro police officers arrested 49-year-old Shelby Lee Thompson at an address on East Highland Drive.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Thompson was in communication with a profile of a juvenile under the age of 14 and arranged to meet them to have sex, requesting to use a safe word if it “started to be too much.”
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Police were able to determine the phone number being used for communication returned to Thompson, and the vehicle he was recently cited in was also seen at the meeting site as evidenced by the dealer tag.
Thompson appeared before District Judge David Boling, who found probable cause to charge Thompson with one class Y felony: Internet stalking of a child.
In addition to the $1 million bond, Thompson was ordered to have no devices that can connect to the internet, no contact with any minors, and he must wear a GPS ankle monitor if released.
Thompson’s next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 30. A class Y felony’s maximum potential sentence is life in prison.
Editor’s Note: JRN has chosen to withhold certain details to protect the identity of the victim.
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic/sexual violence, call 800-656-HOPE (4673) to reach the National Sexual Assault Hotline. You can also call 870-933-9449 to reach the Family Crisis Center’s emergency hotline.
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