A man sentenced to 55 years in prison for sexually assaulting a 5-year-old girl

Harrison, AR. – On June 6, 2024, a Harrison, Arkansas man was sentenced to 55 years in prison without the possibility of parole on two counts: sexual exploitation of a minor by producing child pornography.

Documents show that in July 2023, a 5-year-old female told her mother that 32-year-old Aaron Micheal Ricketts had sexually abused her. The minor also revealed that Ricketts took nude photos of her. After his arrest, the Boone County Sheriff’s Office searched his phone and discovered numerous sexually explicit photos and videos documenting the sexual abuse of a minor, starting when she was just four years old. At sentencing, the United States presented evidence showing that Ricketts distributed photos of the minor online and solicited photos of other minors in return.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Boone County Sheriff’s Office and the Harrison Police Department.

This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual abuse and molestation launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the offices of U.S. Attorneys and Chief Executive Officers, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who exploit children online, and to identify and rescue victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.