NASHVILLE – A local man accused of forcing a 10 year old girl to engage in sexual relations was sentenced to 20 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction with five suspended Wednesday in Howard County Circuit Court.
David Hawkins, 52, received the sentence after pleading guilty to a single count of rape. He was also ordered to pay court costs and a special assessment fee, and must register as a sex offender.
Court documents indicate that the charge against Hawkins stems from a July 2014 investigation that began when the alleged victim’s mother reported the activity to Mineral Springs police and the Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children Division.
“The victim disclosed details of sexual acts that had occurred to her for the past four years, off and on,” police wrote in an arrest affidavit attached to Hawkins’ case file.
During a subsequent interview with police, Hawkins allegedly refused to admit to the crime at first, but later said he “knew that he was going to spend a long time in prison for this.”
“He also stated that he knew that we had a lot of evidence on him and knew he couldn’t beat the charge,” the affidavit states.
In other court news:
• Perry Harris, 51, of Nashville, was sentenced to six years in the Arkansas Department of Correction with three suspended after pleading guilty to a charge of possessing drug paraphernalia.
• Jake Ganous, 18, entered a not guilty plea to a charge of possessing methamphetamine with purpose and was ordered to return to court Aug. 5.
• Betty Jo Mowry, 44, of Nashville, entered a not guilty plea to a charge of possessing methamphetamine and was ordered to return to court Aug. 5.
• An independent mental evaluation was requested for Danny Simmons, 34, of Dierks, who faces a charge of theft of property.
• Rex Hunter Boon, 25, of Nashville, was sentenced to 10 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction with four suspended after pleading guilty to possession of methamphetamine with purpose.
• Christopher Jarman, 29, of Nashville, was sentenced to six years of probation and fined $2,000 after pleading guilty to charges of residential burglary and theft of property.
• George Gitchell, 47, whose city of residence is not listed among court documents, entered not guilty pleas to charges of theft by receiving, residential burglary and possession of firearms by certain persons in addition to two counts of theft of property. He was ordered to return to court Aug. 5.
• Jason Andrew Smith, 20, of Nashville, was sentenced to four years of probation, fined $1,000 and ordered to pay nearly $9,000 in restitution after pleading guilty to charges of theft of property and breaking or entering. A third charge of residential burglary was nolle prossed.
• A mental evaluation was ordered for Eric White, 45, of De Queen, who faces a charge of second degree domestic battery.
• J.W. Pond, 71, of Dierks, was sentenced to two suspended years in the Arkansas Department of Correction and fined $500 after pleading guilty to possession of firearms by certain persons.
• Timothy Thompson, 42, of Lockesburg, was sentenced to four years of probation and fined $750 after pleading guilty to a charge of theft of property.
• Curtis Smith, 35, of Mineral Springs, was sentenced to 10 years of probation and fined $1,500 after pleading guilty to charges of residential burglary and theft of property.
• Jeffery Smith, 29, of Murfreesboro, was sentenced to six years in the Arkansas Department of Correction with three suspended after pleading guilty to possessing methamphetamine.
• Xavier Williams, 18, of Nashville, was sentenced to four years of probation and fined $1,500 after pleading guilty to theft of property.
• James Wright, 18, of Texarkana, was sentenced to four years of probation and fined $1,500 after pleading guilty to two counts of possessing a controlled substance.