CONWAY, AR – A UCA Professor has been suspended with pay after he was arrested by University Police for child porn.
Friday we received a copy of the letter sent to Dr. Noel Campbell from the V.P. and Provost of UCA, notifying him of his suspension with pay.
He’s also been banned from the campus and prohibited from contacting students. The letter said he’d be arrested for criminal trespassing if he went on campus.
Others that know him well however, are having a hard time believing he could even be capable of something like this.
Over the last several years Anthony Hardimon has spent quite a bit of time with Campbell, his neighbor.
“It can’t be true,” Hardimon insisted. “I’ve known Noel for five years and he’s never been anything but a good neighbor and friend.”
Hardimon has ridden his motorcycle with Campbell and been to his house. He knows him well which is why he can’t believe the news that has now stained his neighbor’s name.
“That’s not Noel,” he added. “Noel’s smarter than that.”
The UCA Police Department Friday (4/3) expanded on what led to the economics Professor’s arrest.
“An employee from our IT department contacted us with the potential of child pornography on a state computer,” explained Arch Jones.
According to Jones, that state computer belonged to Campbell. Investigators took him in for questioning Thursday. By that evening he was arrested and booked at the Faulkner County Jail facing child pornography charges.
Students reacted to the news.
“Somebody that is teaching classes here would be doing something that despicable is really creepy,” said Kelsey Allen.
Amy Rochelle said, “I know a lot of the professors. I’m really close to my professor … and so for a professor to do that is just really awkward. Like unbelievable kind of.”
The investigation by Campus Police is still ongoing. UCA Police have State jurisdiction so their investigation can extend beyond campus. Any computer Campbell has access to will likely be investigated.
Official charges have not been filed but despite the investigation Campbell’s friend will remain behind him.
Hardimon continued, “To me until it’s proven facts and even after that I’ll still be Noel’s neighbor and I’ll still be Noel’s friend.”
Campbell has since bonded out of jail. We tried to reach him at home but there was no answer.
