An Independence County man was charged Thursday, June 24, in Independence County Circuit Court with 26 counts of distributing, possessing, or viewing matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child.
Arkansas State Police handled the investigation of Jeremie Lee Candler, 40. According to court information, Candler is a Level 2 registered sex offender who was recently released from supervised probation in 2020 for a previous felony charge similar to the ones with which he is currently charged.
The arrest affidavit noted that a search warrant was executed earlier this year at Candler’s residence in Batesville, and a cell phone and Android tablet were seized. The affidavit said 177 images of child exploitative material — with 26 of the images falling into the child pornography category — were allegedly discovered via the devices and a Google account associated with the suspect.
The affidavit noted Candler (pictured below) admitted to being addicted to child pornography.
Candler is currently in the Independence County Jail under a $100,000 bond.
Image via Independence County Sheriff’s Department
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