OIL TROUGH, Ark. — A 33-year-old Oil Trough suspect was arrested Feb. 18, 2026, on a charge of second-degree sexual assault involving a child, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Independence County.
Travis Andrew Matlock was taken into custody after the Independence County Sheriff’s Office received case materials from the Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children Division regarding an alleged incident reported to have occurred around Dec. 8, 2025.
According to the affidavit, an 11-year-old girl told investigators that she fell asleep while lying down and later woke to inappropriate sexual contact. The child described the contact to authorities during an interview conducted with her mother present.
The affidavit states the girl reported the contact occurred more than once during the same time period. She indicated the suspect left the room and later returned before the behavior was repeated.
Investigators later interviewed Matlock at the Independence County Sheriff’s Office. According to the affidavit, he confirmed that he had lain with the child but denied engaging in any sexual acts.
Based on the investigation, authorities sought and obtained an arrest warrant charging Matlock with second-degree sexual assault, a felony under Arkansas law.
The case is pending in Independence County Circuit Court.
All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The Arkansas Child Abuse Hotline may be reached by calling 1-800-482-5964.
The National Sexual Assault Hotline is confidential and available 24/7. The number is 800.656.4673.
You can also chat online with crisis support at online.rainn.org.
More resources and information about RAINN can be viewed here.
The Family Crisis Center, Inc. is a local resource available to help if you’re in need.
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