UPDATE: The United States Marines recruiter who authorities allege used his position to have sex with an underage child was arrested and booked into the Independence County Sheriff’s Department this morning on a $20,000 bond. According to Region 8 News, two hours later, Weather had bonded out. (Click here for the Region 8 story.)
Independence County Sheriff Shawn Stephens told Region 8 News that the Marine Corps is actively cooperating with the sheriff’s department in the investigation.
Earlier:
According to records filed in Independence County Circuit Court on Thursday, Duncan Quade Weathers, 27, is charged with one felony count of first-degree sexual assault, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.
The arrest affidavit for Weathers says a mother and father spoke with Lieutenant Zack Rawlins of the Independence County Sheriff’s Department and reported an alleged sexual assault against their child.
The parents told Rawlins that Weathers made contact with the child while he was at the child’s school promoting careers in the Marines. The parents told investigators they found images of a nude Weathers as well as an image of Weathers and the child in the minor’s bed while reviewing the child’s phone, the affidavit said.
According to the court documents, the parents phoned the recruiter to confront him and, in written statements, said that Weathers “admitted to having intercourse with the child” and asked them not to contact authorities because “he was going to commit suicide so his wife could receive his military benefits.”
In an interview with the child, the child told Rawlins that Weathers met the minor during a school career function. The child also said Weathers had told the child in the past that “he wanted his relationship with recruits to be on more of a friendly basis,” according to the affidavit.
The incident involving the felony charge occurred in October at the child’s home, according to the affidavit. The child told authorities Weathers arrived at the house in his government-issued vehicle and had to leave when he received a phone call from his office in Searcy.
The affidavit said Weathers was interviewed at the Independence County Sheriff’s Department on Nov. 29. Weathers said he met the victim during a career function, but that the minor “was not interested in a career in the Marines.”
When Weathers was further pressed on the locations where he had seen the child, he “requested to stop questioning without having legal advice,” the affidavit said.
According to Rawlins, the platform of being a Marine recruiter allowed Duncan Weathers the ability to make contact with a range of young children in multiple school districts and provided him with a position of trust and authority. The affidavit alleges Weathers used the position to do “the exact opposite” and utilized the platform to contact the minor child and engage in sexual intercourse.
Authorities allege an area United States Marines recruiter used his position have sex with an underage child.
According to records filed in Independence County Circuit Court on Thursday, Duncan Quade Weathers, 27, is charged with one felony count of first-degree sexual assault, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.
The arrest affidavit for Weathers says a mother and father spoke with Lieutenant Zack Rawlins of the Independence County Sheriff’s Department and reported an alleged sexual assault against their child.
The parents told Rawlins that Weathers made contact with the child while he was at the child’s school promoting careers in the Marines. The parents told investigators they found images of a nude Weathers as well as an image of Weathers and the child in the minor’s bed while reviewing the child’s phone, the affidavit said.
According to the court documents, the parents phoned the recruiter to confront him and, in written statements, said that Weathers “admitted to having intercourse with the child” and asked them not to contact authorities because “he was going to commit suicide so his wife could receive his military benefits.”
In an interview with the child, the child told Rawlins that Weathers met the minor during a school career function. The child also said Weathers had told the child in the past that “he wanted his relationship with recruits to be on more of a friendly basis,” according to the affidavit.
The incident involving the felony charge occurred in October at the child’s home, according to the affidavit. The child told authorities Weathers arrived at the house in his government-issued vehicle and had to leave when he received a phone call from his office in Searcy.
The affidavit said Weathers was interviewed at the Independence County Sheriff’s Department on Nov. 29. Weathers said he met the victim during a career function, but that the minor “was not interested in a career in the Marines.”
When Weathers was further pressed on the locations where he had seen the child, he “requested to stop questioning without having legal advice,” the affidavit said.
According to Rawlins, the platform of being a Marine recruiter allowed Duncan Weathers the ability to make contact with a range of young children in multiple school districts and provided him with a position of trust and authority. The affidavit alleges Weathers used the position to do “the exact opposite” and utilized the platform to contact the minor child and engage in sexual intercourse.
Thursday’s arrest warrant issued for Weathers was on a bond of $20,000.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Weathers should contact the Independence County Sheriff’s Department at (870) 793-8838.
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