GARLAND COUNTY, Ark. (KATV) — Zachary Nehus, 52, a former school teacher and registered sex offender, was arrested Tuesday in Garland County for violating the terms of his parole stemming from a previous child pornography conviction.
Nehus, who is married to Dr. Stephanie Nehus, the Superintendent of the Hot Springs School District, was taken into custody after investigators reportedly uncovered evidence indicating new violations connected to child pornography. The Garland County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the arrest, citing a breach of his parole conditions.
Nehus is classified as a Level 4 sex offender—the highest risk category in Arkansas—and was originally arrested in 2014 on 30 child pornography-related charges. A plea deal resulted in 20 of those charges being dropped at the time.
Despite his criminal record, Nehus drew concern from parents in 2023 after being seen visiting campuses where his children attend school. The district defended its transparency, with Dr. Nehus previously acknowledging her husband’s past in a public post, stating she had been open about the situation since 2014. However, she declined to speak with media during recent inquiries.
The Hot Springs School Board has scheduled a special meeting Thursday night to address the situation, as public scrutiny intensifies.
Police have opened an investigation and stated that additional information will be released as it becomes available.
