Local man charged with sexual assault

Breshears
Breshears

A Hot Springs man was arrested Tuesday on a felony charge of sexual assault for allegedly having sex with an underage female earlier this year.

John Martin Breshears, 23, of 4142 Park Ave., was taken into custody at his residence shortly after 3 p.m. by Garland County sheriff's investigators on a warrant for fourth-degree sexual assault, punishable by up to six years in prison.

Breshears was later released on $2,500 bond and is set to appear Oct. 29 in Garland County District Court.

According to the probable cause affidavit, on July 25, the Garland County Sheriff's Department received a report of a 15-year-old female being in a sexual relationship with a 23-year-old known suspect, identified as Breshears.

On July 17, the female was interviewed by Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children Division investigator Lyniya Johnson at Ouachita Children's Center and reportedly stated she and Breshears, who she called "Marty" and identified as her boyfriend, had been dating since Feb. 18. She reportedly denied having a sexual relationship with him.

On July 23, ASP Crimes Against Children Division investigator Katherine Finnegan interviewed Breshears at Arkansas State Police Troop K headquarters and the interview was audio recorded.

Breshears stated he and the female were "somewhat girlfriend and boyfriend" and allegedly admitted that about two months earlier he and the female had sex at her mother's home.

He acknowledged that she was 15 and he was 23 at the time of the incident and stated it only happened the one time.

Sheriff's Investigator Jennifer Tonseth, after further investigation, obtained a warrant for Breshears on Tuesday. A court order barring Breshears from contact with the victim was issued when the warrant was served.

According to court records, Breshears has no prior criminal history.

Local on 10/18/2018

Upcoming Events