A Hot Springs man and woman were charged Monday with not reporting the sexual abuse of two juvenile females by a juvenile male.
Christifer Allen Mauch, 31, who lists an H L Circle address, and Juanita Adle McBride, 32, who lists a Centerview Street address, were taken into custody at 4 p.m. Monday and each charged with permitting child abuse, a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
Mauch bonded out and is set to appear Nov. 7 in Garland County District Court.
McBride remained in custody Tuesday in lieu of $5,000 bond and is set to appear Nov. 8 in district court.
According to the affidavit, on Sept. 30, the Garland County Sheriff's Department received a report of sexual abuse of an 11-year-old female by a known person, a 14-year-old male. During an interview, the male allegedly admitted to sexually assaulting the 11-year-old female and a 12-year-old female on the same day in June 2016.
On Oct. 5, the 11-year-old was interviewed at Cooper-Anthony Mercy Child Advocacy Center and said the male had sexually assaulted her several times over the summer. She said that, on one day, she was sexually assaulted by the male and then witnessed the male sexually assault the 12-year-old. The 11-year-old stated she told McBride several times the male was continuing to sexually assault her before and after he sexually assaulted the 12-year-old.
On Oct. 6, McBride was interviewed by investigators and stated that in June she became aware the male was sexually abusing both females. She said she did not call police, the Child Abuse Hotline or take the 11-year-old to the hospital or physician because she did not know what to do.
During an interview, Mauch reportedly said a former roommate informed him of the sexual abuse a few days after the initial occurrence. Mauch said he was told the 14-year-old male sexually assaulted the two females. He said he did not contact police, the Child Abuse Hotline or take the females to the hospital or physician because he didn't know what to do and "thought he could put an end to it without getting anyone else involved."
Local on 10/26/2016