Jonesboro Man Held on $1 Million Bond for Alleged Rape of Minor

JONESBORO, Ark. – A man is charged with a felony count of rape involving a minor in Jonesboro.

John Steven Walton, 45, of Jonesboro, was arrested this week for a Class Y felony charge of rape. On Wednesday, July 24, Judge David Boling set a $1 million bond, cash/surety, meaning he will need to come up with $100,000 if he is to be released.

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The police report says between 8 AM and 10:30 PM on July 20, 2024, at a location masked to protect the victim, the suspect allegedly forced sexual contact with a 13-year-old female.

According to the probable cause affidavit, a parent contacted JPD on July 21 to report his daughter was sexually assaulted by a friend’s father. The parent told police his 13-year-old daughter said, while at a friend’s house, the friend’s dad came into the bathroom and sexually assaulted her.

During an interview with investigators, she alleged that Walton followed her to the bathroom and forcefully kissed her, sticking his tongue in her mouth. As he tried to shut the door, one of his daughters was pushing on it, but he slammed it shut. The affidavit says Walton pulled the victim down to the floor. We are leaving out the details from this point, but the 13-year-old reported that he sexually violated her using his mouth and hand.

From there, the victim said Walton’s wife barged into the bathroom, separated them, then shoved Walton into the bathtub. The victim told the wife what happened and was later picked up by her mother.

Walton’s wife appeared in court and pleaded with the judge to lower the bond, saying he has six kids and is their sole provider. However, Judge Boling denied the request, citing that Walton had three prior arrests and two of the three were sexual in nature.

Walton was also ordered to have no contact with any minors or children under the age of 18 – unless they’re related

The next court date in the case is August 23.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

AR Code § 5-14-103 (2020):

(a) A person commits rape if he or she engages in sexual intercourse or deviate sexual activity with another person:

(1) By forcible compulsion;

(2) Who is incapable of consent because he or she is:

(A) Physically helpless;

(B) Mentally defective; or

(C) Mentally incapacitated;

(3)

(A) Who is less than fourteen (14) years of age.

(B) It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution under subdivision (a)(3)(A) of this section that the actor was not more than three (3) years older than the victim; or

(4)

(A) Who is a minor and the actor is the victim’s:

(i) Guardian;

(ii) Uncle, aunt, grandparent, step-grandparent, or grandparent by adoption;

(iii) Brother or sister of the whole or half blood or by adoption; or

(iv) Nephew, niece, or first cousin.

(B) It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution under subdivision (a)(4)(A) of this section that the actor was not more than three (3) years older than the victim.

(b) It is no defense to a prosecution under subdivision (a)(3) or subdivision (a)(4) of this section that the victim consented to the conduct.

(c)

(1) Rape is a Class Y felony.

(2) Any person who pleads guilty or nolo contendere to or is found guilty of rape involving a victim who is less than fourteen (14) years of age shall be sentenced to a minimum term of imprisonment of twenty-five (25) years.

Source: Justia