ALEXANDER, AR - "Nobody likes to see children exploited. I mean nobody," said Lt. Scotty Courtney with the Saline County Sheriff's Department.
Investigators are pouring over hundreds of pictures of child pornography as they learn exactly who the victims are, when and where the photos were taken.
"236 and I'm sure there's going to be more," said Lt. Courtney.
Early Wednesday morning, detectives raided 69-year-old John Green's house and charged him with 236 counts of computer child pornography. They say even more felony charges are possible.
"They live up the street, and the next door neighbor here has three children," said Green's neighbor Faye McKeon. "But what concerns me is the park is right here just a few doors down."
A public park with a playground is less than a block away from Green's house. Neighbors say kids play there almost every day.
"It amazes me that something can go on in this area and people don't know about it," said McKeon. "Also, you would think the family members of this man would know something about it."
Green is Alexander Mayor Paul Mitchell's father-in-law and he made sure investigators knew it.
"He made a statement to the detectives there on scene that he was the father of a mayor here in Saline County," said Lt. Courtney.
That statement got Green slapped with another charge - attempting to influence a public official. "I'm in shock," said Mayor Mitchell, Wednesday, over the phone. "I had no idea any of this was going on and I hate that my name was dragged into it. That never should have happened."
"This is the second arrest that the sheriff's office along with the task force has made in the last several weeks and I'm sure this will not be the last," said Lt. Courtney.
Investigators currently monitor 20 registered sex offenders around Green's neighborhood.
"It really makes me sick to my stomach," said McKeon.
Green could push that number to 21.
Green is being held in the Saline County Jail without bond. He goes before a judge Friday morning.
