Man claiming to hunt Bigfoot charged with child porn

WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. – Authorities say an Arkansas man under investigation for claiming he tracked Bigfoot for the U.S. government has been arrested on a child pornography charge.

The Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that 46-year-old Keith Barnes was arrested last week. Lawrence County sheriff’s officials say they received an anonymous tip that Barnes viewed or possessed child pornography during their impersonation investigation.

The investigation began after people reported seeing Barnes wearing a uniform with a badge and claiming he was a cryptozoologist with the Interior Department. The department says that job title doesn’t exist and Barnes doesn’t work for the agency.

Barnes was released from jail after posting bond. It wasn’t immediately clear if he has an attorney, and Barnes doesn’t have a publicly listed phone number. He’s scheduled to appear in court June 18.

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Information from: Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, http://www.nwaonline.com