A Harrison man is facing a Class Y felony charge following an undercover child internet stalking investigation conducted by the White County Sheriff’s Office and multiple law enforcement agencies.
According to investigators, Jacob Fletcher, 39, of Harrison, began communicating on June 19 with a social media account he believed belonged to a minor female. Authorities say the account was actually operated by a White County Sheriff’s Office investigator.
During the online conversations, investigators allege Fletcher discussed having sexual relations with the minor and later made plans to travel to Searcy to pick up the child and return to his home in Harrison.
Authorities said Fletcher arrived at the residence on June 22 where he believed the minor lived. Upon arrival, he was met by officers from the White County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI Little Rock Field Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Arkansas State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Law enforcement officials also executed a search warrant at Fletcher’s Harrison residence with assistance from the Harrison Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations and the Boone County Sheriff’s Office.
Fletcher is currently being held at the White County Detention Center on a charge of Internet Stalking of a Child, a Class Y felony.
Chief Deputy Clayton Edwards said the Sheriff’s Office is expanding its online investigative efforts.
“We are expanding our online presence with detectives having received training in conducting sting operations on sexual predators,” Edwards said.
“It’s horrible how easy it can be — we don’t have to look for these predators, they solicit us and come to us. I look forward to our investigators exposing more of this evil.”
All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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