May 1, 2025 – James Thomas Arnold, 38, of Potts Camp, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for possessing child sexual abuse material.
The investigation began when law enforcement discovered Arnold used a peer-to-peer network to download videos and images of children, including minors under the age of 12, that depicted sexual abuse.
U.S. District Court Judge Michael P. Mills sentenced Arnold to 180 months imprisonment followed by a 10-year term of supervised release for the offense. He is required to register as a sex offender pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. The Court ordered that Arnold pay restitution to the victims who were identified in the offense in the amount of $41,500.00.
James Thomas Arnold
“Protecting children always has been and always will be a top priority of this office,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “We are proud of the partnership with the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office and the FBI that has yet again produced a lengthy sentence for an individual who views children as sexual objects.”
“My office is committed to holding individuals who exploit children accountable for their crimes. Thanks to the diligent work of our cyber-crime investigators, we successfully stopped a predator from doing more harm,” said Attorney General Lynn Fitch. “I am grateful to our partners at the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their work to secure this sentence. Together, we are making Mississippi a safer place for everyone.”
“The FBI remains committed to protecting our most vulnerable citizens—our children,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the FBI Jackson Field Office. “Mr. Arnold’s sentencing underscores the seriousness of crimes against children and strengthens our dedication to holding offenders accountable. We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to ensure these predators are brought to justice.”
The case was investigated and conducted by the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office and the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Roberts and Julie Addison prosecuted the case.
