Four NWA residents sentenced to total 74 years for child exploitation offenses

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Four Northwest Arkansas residents were recently sentenced to a total of 74 years in federal prison for child exploitation crimes, according to a press release from the Office of the United States Attorney, Western District of Arkansas.

Darlina Maree Jasso, 33, of Berryville, was sentenced May 9 to 10 years in prison without the possibility of parole after being convicted of transporting a minor across state lines to engage in a sexual activity.

Charles Marchand, 32, of Berryville, was sentenced to more than eight years without the possibility of parole after being convicted of transporting child pornography.

Aaron Hudson, 32, of Fayetteville, also known as Sophie Ann Hudson, was sentenced to six years in prison for possession of child pornography.

Nathan Wright, 38, of Rogers, was sentenced to 50 years in prison without the possibility of parole after being convicted of sexual exploitation of a minor through the production and transportation of child pornography.

Court documents indicate that in May 2022, the Carroll County Sheriff's Department contacted the FBI after discovering that Jasso had transported a 15-year-old from Missouri to Berryville, with the intent that she and her boyfriend engage in sexual activity with the minor.

Surveillance video from Jasso's phone capturing sexual activity between the minor and the two adults was found by law enforcement. Text messages between Jasso and her boyfriend were also found detailing the plan to bring the minor from Missouri and their intentions to engage in sexual activity with them.

Court documents state that in August 2022, Homeland Security Investigations agents and task force agents received information that Merchant had uploaded child pornography to social media. A search warrant was executed at Merchant's home where several images of child pornography were found.

In December 2021, agents and agents with the Homeland Security Investigations Task Force received information that someone had uploaded child pornography to a website known to law enforcement as an exchange site and viewing child pornography, according to court documents.

Law enforcement executed a search warrant at the Rogers' Hudson home and found child pornography and several child-sized dolls used for sexual purposes, according to the release.

In October 2022, FBI agents and task force agents received information that Wright had allegedly uploaded images of himself sexually abusing a minor to Google's servers.

Agents from the FBI and Benton County Sheriff's Office executed a search warrant at Wright Rogers' home and found several images of child pornography, including those showing Wright sexually abusing at least one minor.

The statement said the United States presented evidence to the court during sentencing that Wright took photos of himself sexually abusing a second minor.

The cases were investigated by the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Benton County Sheriff's Office and Carroll County Sheriff's Office , according to the press release.