Pierre Isiah Dowling, Craighead County teacher facing charges of child pornography

A Paragould school paraprofessional was arrested on suspicion of child pornography by Jonesboro police on Monday.

According to the Jonesboro Police Department, Craighead County District Court Judge Tommy Fowler found probable cause to prosecute Pierre Isiah Dowling, 23, with internet child pornography on May 11.

“Shortly after accepting a friend request, the content became sexual,” according to JPD.

According to the affidavit, the 16-year-old victim contacted a detective with the department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Division about a man who sent her nude images through social media in November. The statement also said, “Dowling was a teacher at Paragould Middle School and a strength and conditioning coach for the high school.”

Dowling was listed as a special education resource helper on the Paragould School District’s website.

“The victim indicated that after she discovered he was an adult and a teacher, she notified him, and he told her she couldn’t tell anyone,” according to court filings.

Dowling’s attention did not stop online, according to Detective Bill Brown.

“The juvenile stated that Dowling came to one of her softball games and stood behind the dugout trying to get her attention to the point that one of her teammates asked her who the guy was trying to get her attention,” Detective Brown said.

The victim reported Dowling to the police following this occurrence, according to officials.

Superintendent Nick Jankoviak said in a statement that the district was informed on May 9 that a classified employee had been arrested.

“The employee has been a paraprofessional for the district for one year,” Jankoviak added.

Officials stated the victim recorded screenshots and images of the chat, including Dowling’s face and bare chest laying in bed, according to Brown.

The affidavit of Dowling’s messages included suggestive comments, including “If I happened to be your coach what would happen? You got nice legs. I’d make you earn your spot. You are fine and athletic. I want to turn yo [explicit] into a freak.”

The official document also showed that the teacher also sent the victim a picture of himself “with the cover raised up and his penis exposed.”

When the victim showed her school resource officer the message, the officer told her to call Detective Brown.

Dowling is being jailed on a $75,000 bond at the Craighead County Detention Center.