A 51-year-old Batesville man is behind bars after being charged with two counts of rape and four counts of second-degree sexual assault — each count involving a minor.
Michael Gene Hightower (pictured) was booked into the Independence County Jail on Aug. 14 on the six felony counts. Hightower’s bond has been set at $300,000.
According to court documents, the Independence County Sheriff’s Department received a referral from the Arkansas Department of Human Services in November 2023 regarding alleged the sexual and physical abuse of a minor. The referral stemmed from an Oct. 31, 2023, interview an Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children investigator held with the minor.
The documents said the alleged incidents occurred over a two-year period, with the most recent occurring on Oct. 30, 2023.
Image: Independence County Sheriff’s Department
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