An Independence County man has been charged in Independence County Circuit Court with two counts of sexual indecency with a child, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.
The affidavit of probable cause for arrest said the incident on which the charges are based occurred on June 6 of this year. Independence County Sheriff’s Department deputies were called to a private residence in the county regarding a man who had allegedly exposed himself to two juveniles.
When deputies arrived, the affidavit said they met the suspect, identified as Jason Lynn McDonald, 38. The responding deputies said in the court information that McDonald was unsteady on his feet, smelled of intoxicants, and appeared to be intoxicated.
The court documents said McDonald told deputies that he did not know what was going on, claimed to have had eight or nine beers, and said he had been “attacked by his neighbor.”
Court information said two juveniles, both under the age of 15, were playing in the yard when the suspect called them over to him, and then he allegedly exposed himself in front of them. The court records said the juveniles became upset and ran home to tell two of their relatives what had just occurred.
Both juveniles were interviewed at the Batesville Safety Center after officials started an investigation. The Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children Division also conducted an investigation and issued a “true” finding afterward regarding both juveniles in their testimony.
McDonald has been charged with two counts of sexual indecency with a child, both Class D felonies.
A bond was set at $25,000.
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