A Magnolia man facing numerous counts of child indecency and electronic child pornography appeared Thursday in Columbia County Circuit Court.
The defendant, Cole T. Dixon, 20, was arrested March 4 at a Columbia Rd. 36 home located approximately 2 miles east of Magnolia’s city limits. Authorities were first notified to Dixon’s alleged actions on March 1 through the Columbia County Sheriff’s anonymous tip line.
In the alert, according to a CCSO probable cause affidavit, the agency received word that a Wisconsin man’s 12-year-old son had received multiple “indecent” electronic pictures. They were thought to have originated in Magnolia. While investigators corresponded with the Wisconsin man and combed through more electronic messages, the defendant was pinpointed as the suspect.
“The pictures of the man on top of the messages was compared with to a driver’s license photo of Cole Thomas Dixon,” the affidavit said. “They are the same person.”
Authorities stated that they had seen lewd photos of the defendant and sexually-explicit messages to the 12-year-old and that, according to the affidavit, the “sender knew the victim was 13-years-old or younger.”
Authorities obtained a search warrant and took Dixon into custody with “no incident,” according to the affidavit. Photos inside his residence were taken, and electronic evidence was seized.
In all, investigators claimed that 25 separate messages containing explicit material were sent. Dixon is facing as many felony counts for sexual indecency with a child and one count of computer child pornography. He entered a not-guilty plea on June 5.
The defendant was released from jail March 14 on $100,000 bond, according to Columbia County Detention Center inmate records. Dixon’s attorney, David P. Price of Magnolia, said Thursday that his client is currently under supervision and wears an electronic ankle monitor. The defense attorney also asked the court for a 60-day continuance to give his client time for a mental evaluation.
“He’s scheduled for a private exam with a psychologist,” Price said.
Deputy Prosecutor Ryan Phillips was in agreement with the defense on the continuance request, stating that his office is still awaiting discovery results from the Arkansas State Police. The prosecutor claimed that both he and Columbia County Investigator Kelly Blair have attempted to contact the state police for the status of the evidence sent, but have yet to hear anything back.
“We’ve got to finish up with discovery to see what the state will have,” said Phillips.
He also noted that if his office hears nothing from the state police in the next few weeks, he will be forced to request a subpoena for the evidence.
After hearing from both sides, Circuit Judge David W. Talley Jr. passed the case for review on Sept. 5.
Sexual indecency with a child is a Class D felony in Arkansas. Computer child pornography is a higher-classified, Class B felony. The former can carry up to six years in prison for each count, while the latter is punishable for up to 20 years.