David Clay Fowlkes, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas
A Fayetteville man has been sentenced to 188 months in federal prison without parole for the attempted production of child pornography. The sentencing took place on January 15, 2025, with Judge Timothy L. Brooks presiding over the case in the U.S. District Court in Fayetteville.
The investigation began in November 2023 when the Benton County Sheriff’s Office conducted an online child pornography probe that traced illegal downloads to a residence in Fayetteville. This information was passed to the Northwest Arkansas Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. A search warrant executed by ICAC and the Fayetteville Police Department led them to John Steven Wallace, aged 30, who confessed to downloading child pornography via a peer-to-peer network.
Wallace also admitted to producing images and videos of a minor using a hidden camera in his bathroom. Forensic examination of his electronics revealed a large collection of child pornography and confirmed the existence of videos involving the identified minor.
Following these findings, Wallace was indicted by a Grand Jury in May 2024 and pleaded guilty in September 2024.
U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes from the Western District of Arkansas announced the sentence. The investigation involved collaboration between the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Fayetteville Police Department, and Benton County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyler Williams prosecuted this case.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide.
