Morrilton man receives 30-year sentence for child exploitation crimes

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Morrilton man receives 30-year sentence for child exploitation crimes

Jonathan D. Ross U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas

Timothy Lee Highfield has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for producing child sexual abuse material. The sentence was announced by Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and delivered by Chief United States District Judge Kristine G. Baker.

Highfield, aged 46 from Morrilton, Arkansas, was indicted on June 8, 2022, by a federal grand jury on one count of production of child pornography. He pleaded guilty to this charge on January 9, 2024. Chief Judge Baker sentenced him to 360 months in federal prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release. It is noted that there is no parole available in the federal system.

The case began when a citizen handed over a phone containing child sexual abuse material to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) around December 17, 2021. The investigation found that the phone belonged to Highfield and contained a video he made showing a minor under seven years old performing oral sex on him. Additionally, the phone had multiple videos and images depicting child sexual abuse material and adults engaging in sexual acts with minors.

The FBI conducted the investigation into these offenses. Assistant United States Attorney Kristin Bryant prosecuted the case.