Cabot Man Sentenced to 60 Years in Prison for Production of Child Sexual Abuse Material

LITTLE ROCK-Mitchell Best, 43, of Cabot, who was federally indicted for crimes that involved the sexual abuse of a child under five years old, was sentenced to 720 months in federal prison for production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down today by United States District Judge D. P. Marshall, Jr.

On July 2, 2024, Best was indicted by a federal grand jury in an Indictment charging him with five counts of production of CSAM, one count of distribution of CSAM, and one count of possession of CSAM. On February 18, 2026, Best pleaded guilty to two counts of production of CSAM and today received 30-year sentences on each count, to be served consecutively. In addition, in December 2024, Best was sentenced to 30 years in state prison for rape. Judge Marshall ruled that 10 years of Best's federal sentence are to be served concurrently with that state sentence, with the remaining 50 years to be served consecutively, after Best completes the 30-year state sentence.

In addition to the 60-year federal sentence, Judge Marshall also ordered Best to serve a lifetime of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

An investigation revealed that the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force in Illinois received a cybertip from a social media platform that a user with an IP address in Cabot uploaded homemade CSAM to the platform. A member of the Illinois ICAC Task Force then notified the Arkansas State Police ICAC Task Force and on March 29, 2024, along with Special Agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), an investigation was initiated. It was determined through the investigation that Best was the user identified with the IP address in Cabot.

On April 2, 2024, HSI and officers from the Cabot Police Department executed a search warrant at Best's home. During the search of Best's home, agents seized Best's cell phone and when asked for the passcode, Best stated he could not remember the code, giving agents several different passcodes. During questioning, a family member arrived at the home and provided agents with the passcode to Best's cell phone. During a forensic download of the cell phone, agents located multiple images of CSAM, including images and videos that depicted Best sexually assaulting a young child. These images and videos were then shared with other individuals. Best's cell phone also contained conversations on a social media platform occurring between January 28, 2024, through February 2, 2024, where Best was discussing with other users the sexual exploitation of minors.

The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Arkansas State Police and the Cabot Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristin Bryant.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc. Parents are encouraged to always monitor your children's online activity.

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Additional information about the office of the

United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at

https://www.justice.gov/edar

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