A Jonesboro man has been sentenced to five years in prison after admitting to sharing videos of child sexual abuse on social media.
Austin Hunter Deatherage, 26, pleaded guilty to three counts of possession or use of child sexual abuse material, a Class B felony, in the Second Judicial Circuit Court this week. Judge Randy Philhours sentenced him to 60 months in the Arkansas Department of Corrections, with an additional suspended imposition of 120 months on each count to be served concurrently. He will receive credit for 385 days he has already spent in jail, according to court records.
Upon his release, Deatherage will be required to register as a sex offender. He has also been ordered to pay court costs and fines through $75 monthly installments.
The case began on September 10, 2025, when the Jonesboro Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Division received a cybertip from the Arkansas State Police. The tip included two videos showing a man sexually assaulting a child.
According to an affidavit filed in the case, the explicit material had been shared from a Snapchat account with the display name "Austin Deatherage" and username "austindeather19." Investigators confirmed that the associated phone number and email address were linked to Deatherage.
A search warrant issued to the internet service provider CSC Holdings revealed an IP address connected to his residence on North Culberhouse Street in Jonesboro. Further investigation of the Snapchat account uncovered two original videos containing child sexual abuse material, as well as an additional video.
Deatherage’s guilty plea marks the resolution of the case, which involved coordinated efforts by local authorities and the state’s Internet Crimes Against Children Division.