Harrison man sentenced to 55 years in prison for producing child pornography

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — A Harrison man was convicted Thursday of sexual exploitation and abuse of a minor, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Arkansas.

Aaron Micheal Ricketts, 32, was sentenced to 55 years in prison without the possibility of parole for two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor through the production of child pornography.

In July 2023, a minor revealed to his mother that Ricketts had sexually abused them, according to court documents.

The juvenile revealed during a forensic interview that Ricketts took nude photos of them.

The Boone County Sheriff's Office then arrested Ricketts and seized his cell phone.

Several sexually explicit images and videos documenting Rickett's sexual abuse of the minor over the course of a year were found after a forensic examination of Rickett's phone.

During the sentencing hearing in U.S. District Court in Fayetteville, evidence was presented that Ricketts also distributed images of the minor online and solicited images from other minors.

The Harrison Police Department, Boone County Sheriff's Office, Homeland Security Investigations and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigated the case, according to the release.