A local man was sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty Tuesday to a reduced charge involving the rape of a 15-year-old girl earlier this year.
Christopher James Cook, 25, who has remained in jail in lieu of $150,000 bond since his arrest Jan. 22, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of second-degree sexual assault, reduced from rape, and was sentenced to the maximum of 20 years.
He will also have to register as a sex offender upon his release and was ordered to pay a $250 sex offender fee.
According to the affidavit, on Jan. 14, Garland County sheriff's investigators received a report from the Arkansas Child Abuse Hotline alleging sexual abuse of a 15-year-old girl by a known suspect, who was a relative, that had occurred on Jan. 8 and was witnessed by the victim's mother.
Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children investigator Amanda Chaney was assigned to the case and arranged for the victim to be interviewed that same day by police in Iowa where the victim was staying with her father.
The victim reportedly disclosed she had engaged in consensual sex with Cook over the past few months.
A warrant for Cook's arrest on a charge of rape, punishable by up to life in prison, was issued that same day and he was arrested Jan. 22 and initially held without bond. He appeared in Garland County District Court on Feb. 25 where bond was set at $150,000 but he remained in custody.
Cook had been scheduled for trial this week in Garland County Circuit Court but opted to plead guilty instead after prosecutors agreed to reduce the charge to sexual assault which was done with the consent of the victim's family.
Local on 12/18/2014