MORRILTON — A former deputy with the Conway County Sheriff’s Office has been sentenced to 22 years in state prison after entering a guilty plea to raping a minor.
Joseph Taylor Dube, 34, admitted guilt on Wednesday, August 12, under the terms of a negotiated plea agreement, according to Arkansas State Police and court records. He pleaded to one count of rape, leading to a 30-year prison sentence with eight years suspended, leaving him with 22 years to serve in the Arkansas Division of Correction. Dube will receive credit for 499 days already served in custody.
As part of the plea arrangement, prosecutors dismissed additional charges, including two counts of second-degree sexual assault and one count of sexual grooming of a child.
The case originated on March 22, 2025, when the Conway County Sheriff's Office referred a report of alleged abuse involving Dube to Arkansas State Police. Investigators with the agency's Criminal Investigation Division conducted an inquiry, which resulted in Dube’s arrest.
Under the sentencing terms, Dube is required to register as a sex offender, avoid contact with the victim and their family, and pay court costs, as well as associated fees, including a $100 child advocate fee.
Dube had served as a deputy in Conway County before the allegations surfaced. Further details about the offense have not been disclosed by authorities.