A jury was selected Monday in Miller County to decide the case of a 73-year-old Fouke, Ark., man accused of possessing child pornography.
Ronald Antoniello is accused of possessing a large collection of videos, photographs and other material depicting the exploitation of children, according to a search warrant affidavit. Some of the videos Antoniello allegedly possessed pictured very young children being sexually abused by adults.
In July 2014, investigators with the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office Cyber Crimes Division identified Antoniello’s internet protocol address as the source of file sharing of images and videos of child sexual exploitation. A search was conducted Sept. 3, 2014, on Antoniello’s home on Miller County 10 in Fouke. Boxes of CDs, DVDs, and numerous photos were seized along with computer and photography equipment, sexually oriented comic books and playing cards.
Antoniello is charged with 30 counts of possessing and distributing child pornography, each of which is punishable by three to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
Antoniello’s case is being prosecuted by the state’s Attorney General by a staff lawyer who handles cyber crime. A jury of 12 was chosen Monday to decide the case however trial is not scheduled to begin until Dec. 6 before Circuit Judge Brent Haltom.
Antoniello is currently free on $150,000 bond. He is prohibited from having contact with children as a condition of his pretrial release.
