Child Sex Crime Plea Bargain for Former News Reporter
July 21st, 2021 by Joe Burgess
On Monday, July 19, a former local newspaper reporter, pleaded guilty in Drew County Circuit Court to the charge of “attempted pandering / possession of material depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child.
Harold Coggins, age 63, was sentenced to 6 years of supervised probation, $2500 in fines, and $790 in court costs / fees,
Coggins also must register as a sex offender, and will have $50/month in fees.
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Monday morning in Drew County Circuit Court, a former local newspaper reporter, Harold Coggins, Jr., age 63, had his first appearance in front of Judge Bynum Gibson.
Coggins allegedly carried on an online conversation with a 16-year-old female, in August, 2019 on the MeetMe app, which caught the company‘s attention.
During the conversation, the female told Coggins she was only 16 years old. He then continued the conversation, explaining in detail acts he would like to perform with her, and also requesting photos.
According to court documents, he also suggested meeting the victim at her residence.
On January 22, MeetMe reported the case to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Coggins was interviewed and read his rights by the Arkansas state police on August 17, 2020, where he admitted he set up the account and had conversations of a sexual nature, with several women, telling the investigator that he did not remember this specific conversation.
Coggins first appearance before a judge, was is Monday morning. Although a bond was set for his release, he was sent to the jail for fingerprinting and tracking purposes.
he is charged with pandering/possessing material depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child.
THERE SHOULD BE NO PLEA BARGIN !!!!!!!!