In Greene County, Arkansas, Region 8 News reports that tips provided to the Child Abuse Hotline prompted law enforcement officers from the Greene County Sheriff's Department to arrest an individual suspected of sexually assaulting a minor.
On Wednesday, April 9, District Court Judge Dan Stidham determined that there was sufficient evidence to accuse 20-year-old Branden Austin of one count of rape, which is classified as a Class Y felony, and subsequently issued an arrest warrant for him.
As stated in the court papers, a report about an alleged sexual assault involving a minor was made to the Child Abuse Hotline on March 15.
In an interview conducted with the ChildFirst technique, Lieutenant Ashley Kulin declared in the affidavit that the victim reported "a sexual act that meets the legal definition of rape."
Kulin stated that the victim pointed out Austin as the "individual responsible for carrying out the action" at a house located in Greene County.
On Thursday, April 10, deputies took Austin into custody and admitted him to the Greene County Detention Center pending his court date.
Editor’s Note: In order to safeguard the alleged victim, K8 News has decided not to disclose the specifics of the case, such as the age and gender of the individual involved.
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