Attorney General announces sentencing for man convicted of crimes involving children

Attorney General announces sentencing for man convicted of crimes involving children

Rutledge offers thanks to Cyber Crimes Unit, Little Rock Police Department

From Judd Deere Arkansas Attorney General’s Office

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced today that a Pulaski County man has been sentenced to 30 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction on child exploitation charges.

Roberto Almaraz, 49, of Little Rock pleaded guilty to 10 counts of distributing, possessing or viewing matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving children. In addition to his prison sentence, Almaraz must register as a sex offender.

“It is a priority of this office to get these dangerous predators off the streets across Arkansas,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “I appreciate the hard work of the Attorney General’s Cyber Crimes Unit and the Little Rock Police Department for conducting a thorough investigation to make sure this individual does not continue to exploit and endanger our children.” Special agents with the Attorney General’s Cyber Crimes Unit arrested Almaraz in August after executing a search warrant at Almaraz’s residence. Agents conducted a forensic exam on his computer and found evidence that he downloaded and viewed explicit materials involving children.

The Little Rock Police Department assisted with the search warrant and arrest. Attorneys from the Cyber Crimes Unit assisted Prosecutor Larry Jegley with the conviction.

Leslie Carol Rutledge is the 56th Attorney General of Arkansas. Elected on Nov. 4, 2014, she is the first woman and first Republican in Arkansas history to be elected to the office.