On Monday, Feb. 27, detectives with the Benton Police Department received information from the Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children Division of a possible child abuse case. A 14-year-old female reported sexual allegations with 57-year-old Bruce Wayne DeVries of Benton.
The initial investigation of the allegations led to the seizure of multiple electronic devices belonging to DeVries, which led to the discovery of sexually explicit material involving underage children. Detectives received information that DeVries had left the state, but through contact with various agencies, DeVries was taken into custody by officers in Paris, Texas.
DeVries is currently in the Saline County Detention Center where he faces 3 counts of class D felony Video Voyeurism and 2 counts of class C felony Pandering or Possessing Visual or Print Medium Depicting Sexually Explicit Conduct Involving a Child.
This is an on-going investigation and additional charges are expected pending the completion of the investigation. Anyone with information about the suspect, the incident, or similar incidents, is encouraged to contact the Benton Police Department at 501-778-1171 or 501-315-TIPS. Individuals also may send an anonymous crime tip about this incident to CRIMES (274637) with the keyword BNPD in the body of the text or go to www.crimereports.com to leave a tip. A crime tip can also be submitted via the official Benton Police Department app found on ITunes and Google Play.
Any suspects listed are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Follow BNPD on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Benton-Police-Department/2218291745608