Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation   Stan Florence  Director   Jessica Brown Public Information Director

10/11/11                 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE           

Newcastle Church Deacon Arrested for Internet Stalking of Child

A deacon at the First Baptist Church in Newcastle and coach of a girl’s community basketball team was arrested over the weekend for Internet Stalking of a Child in Van Buren, Arkansas. Van Buren police initiated an investigation into Robert Wells (d.o.b. 1-4-46) due to Wells contacting a 15-year-old female in a Yahoo chat room. Wells solicited the child for sex and sent images of himself to the child. Wells made plans to travel from his home in Newcastle to Van Buren to have sex with the girl. When Wells arrived in Van Buren, he was met by police and taken into custody. He was booked into the jail in Crawford County, Arkansas, where bond was set at $80,000. Wells bonded out of jail.