A Hot Springs man was arrested Friday afternoon on a felony warrant stemming from allegations he raped a 12-year-old girl on at least two occasions over a two-year period beginning when she was 10 years old.
Christopher Randolph Bangham, 36, of 109 Coca Bay Point, was taken into custody at his residence shortly before 2:30 p.m. Friday on one count of rape, punishable by up to life in prison. He remained in custody Monday on zero bond and is set to appear July 11 in Garland County District Court.
According to the affidavit, on March 14, Hot Springs police Detective Kenny May received a report about the alleged rapes from Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children Division Investigator Kathy Finnegan after the victim disclosed the allegations to her on March 10.
On March 13, the victim was interviewed at the Cooper Anthony Mercy Child Advocacy Center and reportedly disclosed that a known suspect, identified as Bangham, had been raping her for two years. She allegedly described two incidents of rape, one that occurred inside a camper and another at a residence.
The exact dates of the alleged incidents were unknown, but the victim said the assaults occurred while she pretended to be asleep while visiting the suspect.
The initial report was made after the victim disclosed information about the assaults to a classmate, after a classroom discussion about abuse. When school officials spoke to the victim privately, she reportedly disclosed a known suspect had raped her while she pretended to be sleeping. School officials then contacted the ASP Child Abuse Hotline.
The victim stated she was 10 years old the first time an incident occurred. She said the suspect began "messing" with her when he thought she was asleep. She woke up to the suspect taking off her clothes, "messing" with her and then "doing it." The victim said she pretended to be asleep during the act.
She accused Bangham of allegedly touching her breasts, buttocks and private parts, as well as engaging in intercourse. She described the incident, saying it was "hurtful and didn't feel right."
The second occurrence allegedly happened sometime in January this year. The victim stated that she fell asleep and he "did the same thing he did the first time."
Local on 06/27/2017