A November trial date has been set for a Hoxie man accused of numerous counts of distributing, possessing, viewing matters depicting child sex.
On February 10th, 2025 investigators with the Arkansas State Police received a cyber tip reporting a google account belonging to Shawn Michael Yelich of Hoxie was used beginning in 2023 to download CSAM. Investigators say 132 files were confirmed as downloaded. Three additional cyber tips were received regarding the same google account with an additional 28 files linked to Yelich.
Yelich was arrested in August 2025 and charged with 15 felony counts of Distributing, Possessing, Viewing Matter Depicting Child Sex.
Yelich received a bond hearing, although he remained in the custody of the Lawrence County Detention Center, bail was set at $100,000 and Yelich was ordered not to possess any device with internet access along with an ankle monitor.
During a September 15th plea hearing, Yelich pled not guilty and will have a November jury trial.