The Paragould man faces 40 counts of child sexual abuse

PARAGOULD, Ark. – A man is charged with dozens of counts of possession of child sexual abuse material following an investigation in Paragould.

The probable cause affidavit states that the Jonesboro Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Unit was conducting an online file-sharing investigation of known images of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Multiple downloads of CSAM were made from an IP address traced to Oakdale Street in Paragould.

On April 12, authorities obtained and executed a search warrant at the Oakdale address. Investigators reported the discovery of an external hard drive connected to a desktop computer. The affidavit states: “There were several files of interest on the device as well as child sexual abuse material.”

The defendant allegedly admitted that he had a CSAM collection and had looked at it out of “curiosity.”

During the search, authorities also found a small clear bag containing 1.5 grams of suspected meth in the living room.

Ian Center, 50, of Paragould, was arrested on 40 Class C felony counts of possession of sexually explicit conduct with a child and one Class D felony count of possession of a controlled substance.

Judge Dan Stidham concluded there was probable cause to charge Center. His bail was set at $500,000 cash only.