A local man twice convicted of sexual assault who was about to stand trial for rape pleaded guilty to an amended charge Thursday and was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Nathan Latrell Ellis, 35, was set to stand trial June 1 on the rape charge, punishable by up to life in prison, but appeared Thursday in Garland County Circuit Court and pleaded guilty to fourth-degree sexual assault, normally punishable by up to six years in prison.
Ellis, a level three sex offender, is classified as a habitual offender, having been convicted twice before of fourth-degree sexual assault. In 2008, he was convicted in a case involving a 14-year-old girl and was placed on probation for five years. In 2010, Ellis was arrested on a second sexual assault charge after having consensual sex with a 14-year-old girl and his probation was revoked and he was sentenced to six years in prison.
According to the affidavit on the most recent charge, on Nov. 8, 2014, a woman reported her 14-year-old daughter was raped by Ellis at his residence on Aug. 1, 2014. According to the affidavit, the woman had text messages from Ellis asking if she had reported the rape. He also told her he could not sleep because he was afraid he would be arrested.
The victim was interviewed at the Ozark Foothills Child Advocacy Center in Doniphan, Mo., on Dec. 31, 2014. The 14-year-old stated she and her sister were baby-sitting at Ellis' residence and they fell asleep in the living room.
When the victim woke up, she was in Ellis' bed with him, wearing only her underwear. She said Ellis held her down and raped her. Afterward, she said he told her he would do it again if she told anybody.
Ellis was arrested Feb. 12, 2015, and had remained in custody in lieu of $100,000 bond since then.
Local on 05/28/2016