DHS staffer nabbed on child porn charges
Posted on Saturday, March 1, 2008
A Department of Human Services employee was arrested by police Thursday for allegedly possessing multiple images of violent child pornography.
Jordan Edward Minette, 45, of 1764 N. Leverett No. 20 in Fayetteville, faces a felony charge of viewing / possessing child pornography.
Minette is accused of possessing multiple DVDs containing images of children being sexually assaulted. Police learned of the allegations after an acquaintance reported finding the DVDs in Minette's apartment.
After executing a search warrant at Minette's home, Fayetteville investigators said they found multiple DVDs depicting images of children and infants being sexually assaulted. Minette was arrested Friday evening after leaving his Department of Human Services job, 4044 Frontage Road.
During an interview with police, Minette admitted to downloading the images from the Internet while living in Florida and bringing them with him to Arkansas. He estimated he had about five DVDs containing numerous images of children engaged in various sexual activities. Minette further described one DVD image depicting an infant being raped by an adult male.
Police said Minette did not work directly with children at the Department of Human Services.
Calls made to the DHS office in Fayetteville were referred to Communications Director Julie Munsell, who works in the department's Little Rock.
Munsell said Minette worked as technical support in the Fayetteville office. His job dealt with e-mail, server and data system issues.
"He did not have any contact with DHS clients. He would not have dealt with any families," Munsell said. She said that the government agency does criminal background and child maltreatment registry checks prior to employment. The registry compiles reports of child maltreatment regardless of the criminal proceedings.
Minette is currently on non-paid status with DHS pending further investigation.
According to a preliminary arrest report issued by the police department, Minette has a criminal history out of Fayetteville for discharging firearms within the city limits and driving while intoxicated.
He was being held Friday evening in the Washington County Detention Center on $ 100, 000 bond. He is scheduled to make his first appearance in the Washington County Circuit Court on Monday.
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