St. Francis County man convicted of possessing videos showing rape of children

Attorney General announces 12 year sentence for ‘despicable actions’

From the Office of Leslie Rutledge Arkansas Attorney General

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge today announced that a St. Francis County man has entered a plea of guilty on child pornography charges. Mario George 31, of Forrest City, pleaded guilty to four counts of distributing, possessing or viewing of matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child. George was arrested May 2018 after he was found in possession of 20 files of videos and images of sexual intercourse and penetration with boys as young as 5 years old to 14 years old. George will serve 12 consecutive years in the Arkansas Department of Correction and will have to register as a sex offender.

“George’s despicable actions of possessing and sharing sexually explicit content only prolong the vicious victimization of innocent children,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “I will do everything in my power to keep these predators off the streets and away from our homes.”

George was arrested by the Attorney General’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit when special agents seized a computer and a USB thumb drive from his residence. Assistant Attorney General Jill Irwin was appointed Special Deputy Prosecutor in the case by the First Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Todd Murray.

In other news from the Office of the Attorney General:

• Rutledge says oklahoma opioid manufacturer decision reaffirms Arkansas Epidemic Attorney General Leslie Rutledge issued a statement following the Oklahoma District Court’s decision holding an opioid manufacturer accountable for its contribution to the epidemic of addiction that has swept our nation.

“Today’s decision in Oklahoma only reaffirms our case against this opioid manufacturer and the crisis it created by lying to Arkansans about the addictiveness of its products,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “In 2018, there were over 186 million opioid pills sold in Arkansas, and we still have a long way to go to overcome the devastation. I will hold all manufacturers accountable for the generation of addiction they have created and bring back the resources for treatment for the citizens of our great State.”

• Automobile dealers mailing bogus lottery games to get Arkansans in the door A Attorney General Rutledge has issued a warning to consumers about mailout automobile dealership promotions containing lottery-style game pieces that trick Arkansans into thinking they’ve won a high value prize. The mailout promotions contain what appear to be lottery scratch-off tickets that indicate that the recipient is a winner of a prize, such as a television, a trip, a boat, cash, and other big prizes.

These promotions entice recipients into a false belief that they have won the prize, as if the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery sold the actual scratch-off ticket. Upon arrival at the dealership to collect the prize, the consumer learns there is no prize and that it is just a ploy to try to sell a car.

“These promotions with phony lottery scratch-off games are just a trick to try to sell cars.” said Attorney General Rutledge. “I support and encourage a competitive business environment in Arkansas, but businesses must be fair and honest with consumers.”

The Attorney General’s Office has conducted an investigative review of these mail-outs and could find no evidence that anyone had ever actually received