Nashville Man Sentenced to Probation in Child Sexual Abuse Material Case
A Nashville man pleaded guilty Wednesday, Feb. 11, under a negotiated plea agreement and was sentenced to 10 years’ probation, ordered to register as a sex offender, and fined $10,000 plus court costs after admitting to one felony count of possession or use of child sexual abuse material.
In May 2025, 34-year-old Justin James Mishler, who listed his residence as 1206 Grove St. in Nashville, was arrested by the Hempstead County Sheriff’s Office. He was charged with a Class B felony count of possession or use of child sexual abuse material and a misdemeanor count of selling, loaning or displaying pornography to minors.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Mishler was employed by the Blevins School District as interim principal following the resignation of the district’s principal shortly after the start of the 2024–25 school year. He previously served as a school counselor in the district.
Following a three month investigation by the Hempstead County Sheriff’s Office and the Arkansas State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Mishler was initially with several other chargers following the execution of 15 search warrants for social media platforms and electronic devised that were used by Mishler.
Authorities alleged that between August 2024 and November 2024, Mishler used Snapchat to solicit minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct. He was also accused of furnishing and disseminating material considered harmful to minors during that same time period.
Mishler turned himself in to Hempstead County Investigator Sergeant Jeremy McBride on Wednesday, February 12, 2025. His bond was set at $100,000 dollars. After posting bail, Mishler was released on March 24, 2025.
As part of the plea agreement, Mishler admitted in court that he committed the offenses and acknowledged his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
On the misdemeanor charge, he was sentenced to one day in jail with credit for time served.
The case was prosecuted by Eighth North District Prosecuting Attorney Ben Hale. The plea agreement and sentencing recommendation were accepted by Eighth North Circuit Court Judge Joseph Short.