Eight victims have now been identified in what authorities are calling the largest case of local child pornography in Madison County.
"We don't need this in our community. We don't need it anywhere."
66-year-old James Hanna, owner of Japton Grocery and Farm Supply Store, is accused of producing child pornography. Investigators said they found several laptops, video tapes, video cameras, and more than 800 pornographic images in his house, which is attached to the store.
"We're here to protect our kids, you know, protect the people of this county and we're going to do whatever it takes to do that," said Madison County Sheriff Phillip Morgan.
Sheriff Morgan believes Hanna began committing these crimes around five years ago, and the news came as a shock for folks living in the small town.
"You just don't expect you could know somebody for years and then something out of the blue, like wow... Some things can just pop up out of somebody that you would never expect," said Zachery DuPriest.
DuPriest has known Hanna for the last five years, and said he seemed like a very smart business man. But as the years went on, he began hearing about young girls visiting Hanna.
"At first I thought he was trying to help them out with stuff because he would help them learn how to count, stuff like that, because they had a difficult time with it."
But sparks of suspicion lit the tight-knit community. A tip was sent to the Madison County Sheriff's Office about five months ago, which led to the investigation that put Hanna behind bars August 28.
"My investigators, they're working on it constantly. They have been ever since we arrested him."
Unfortunately, as officials filter through evidence, Sheriff Morgan believes there may be more to this case. There are eight identified victims so far, and analysis of the evidence is only about 40-percent complete.
"I just hope, you know, if there are any more victims out there that they come forward because we want to put this guy away. He doesn't need to be on the streets."
Sheriff Morgan said Hanna's known victims are all girls between the ages of 12 and 14 and that some of the victims came to authorities, while others were contacted.
As of now, Hanna is facing three counts of Rape and 25 counts of Engaging Children in Sexually Explicit Conduct for Use in Visual or Printed Medium.
In addition, Sheriff Morgan said they have requested the assistance of the Army and the state of Louisiana to contact other victims. As this case crossed state lines, authorities said there are also possible federal charges including 50 counts of Possession of Child Pornography and three counts of Manufacturing Underage Pornography.
Hanna is still behind bars with a $500,000 bond, and his arraignment date is set for September 11.
"We don't need this in our community. We don't need it anywhere."
66-year-old James Hanna, owner of Japton Grocery and Farm Supply Store, is accused of producing child pornography. Investigators said they found several laptops, video tapes, video cameras, and more than 800 pornographic images in his house, which is attached to the store.
"We're here to protect our kids, you know, protect the people of this county and we're going to do whatever it takes to do that," said Madison County Sheriff Phillip Morgan.
Sheriff Morgan believes Hanna began committing these crimes around five years ago, and the news came as a shock for folks living in the small town.
"You just don't expect you could know somebody for years and then something out of the blue, like wow... Some things can just pop up out of somebody that you would never expect," said Zachery DuPriest.
DuPriest has known Hanna for the last five years, and said he seemed like a very smart business man. But as the years went on, he began hearing about young girls visiting Hanna.
"At first I thought he was trying to help them out with stuff because he would help them learn how to count, stuff like that, because they had a difficult time with it."
But sparks of suspicion lit the tight-knit community. A tip was sent to the Madison County Sheriff's Office about five months ago, which led to the investigation that put Hanna behind bars August 28.
"My investigators, they're working on it constantly. They have been ever since we arrested him."
Unfortunately, as officials filter through evidence, Sheriff Morgan believes there may be more to this case. There are eight identified victims so far, and analysis of the evidence is only about 40-percent complete.
"I just hope, you know, if there are any more victims out there that they come forward because we want to put this guy away. He doesn't need to be on the streets."
Sheriff Morgan said Hanna's known victims are all girls between the ages of 12 and 14 and that some of the victims came to authorities, while others were contacted.
As of now, Hanna is facing three counts of Rape and 25 counts of Engaging Children in Sexually Explicit Conduct for Use in Visual or Printed Medium.
In addition, Sheriff Morgan said they have requested the assistance of the Army and the state of Louisiana to contact other victims. As this case crossed state lines, authorities said there are also possible federal charges including 50 counts of Possession of Child Pornography and three counts of Manufacturing Underage Pornography.
Hanna is still behind bars with a $500,000 bond, and his arraignment date is set for September 11.
