PARAGOULD, Ark. — A man originally charged with rape has taken a plea deal to felony sexual assault that will see him avoid prison time, but he must register as a sex offender.
Jason Rowland, 22, of Paragould, entered a negotiated guilty plea on October 21, 2024, to second-degree sexual assault, according to online court records. The charge was reduced from rape, a Class Y felony. He was sentenced to 60 months suspended imposition of sentence and ordered to have no contact with the victim, “except as necessary to coordinate and communicate” regarding their child.
The sentencing order says he must register as a sex offender. He must also pay a fine, plus court costs and fees totaling $1,440. The defendant faces 20 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction and a fine of up to $14,000 if he violates his probation.
The prosecutor’s short report of circumstances states that the defendant and the victim were formally in a relationship and have a child together. “On October 3, 2022, the victim was at a party at which she got voluntarily intoxicated. She contacted the defendant, who picked her up from the party and took her to his residence in Greene County. At his residence, she fell asleep in his bed. The next actions are in dispute – the victim claims that the defendant initiated sex with her while she was passed out, while the defendant contends that the sexual contact was consensual. The victim expressed a desire by the State that the defendant not go to prison, and said she would be satisfied with any resolution which required sex offender registration.”
On October 11, 2022, the probable cause affidavit said Rowland was interviewed at the police substation, 801 E. Court Street. During a Mirandized interview, he is alleged to have made self-incriminating statements, Detective Corporal Tron Beesley wrote in the affidavit submitted to the court. Rowland agreed to a DNA swab that was sent, along with the sexual assault collection kit, to the Arkansas State Crime Lab.
On February 6, 2024, the state crime lab results identified Rowland as the contributor to the DNA profile found on the sexual assault kit with “all scientific certainty,” the PC affidavit states.
Rowland was booked into Greene County Jail on a charge of rape at 4:38 PM on February 7, 2024. On February 8, Judge Dan Stidham set his bond at $25,000. Rowland bonded out of jail a short time later.
Special Prosecutor Robbie Jones, who handled the case due to conflicts, told NEA Report on Monday, October 21 that he had no comment on the outcome of the case beyond what was said in his report, likely referring to the victim stating she wanted no prison time for the defendant and only wanted him to register as a sex offender, both of which were achieved.
Rowland told NEA Report on Monday he took the guilty plea with his reasoning being that it was not an admission of guilt, but “a necessity to stay in the lives of my children. I have a wife and three incredible boys I am responsible for, and I could not risk even for a second allowing that decision to be up for 12 random people to decide.”
“I maintain that the incident was one of consent,” Rowland said. “The only place you would ever find differently would be in my guilty plea.”
Rowland also sent documents he claims show that he passed a polygraph exam that was ruled inadmissible to court. In a written statement to examiners (not pictured), Rowland wrote that they had consensual sex, she was of sound mind and able to make rational decisions. He also alleged she was on top of him during the encounter.
Rowland acknowledged that regardless of whether people question the ruling, it is now a matter of fact and he must register as a sex offender.
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