Fourth suspect arrested in rape investigation
EL DORADO — A fourth suspect was arrested in connection with rape and kidnapping cases involving three other young suspects from El Dorado, who appeared in court two weeks ago, a sheriff’s deputy said.
Zayne A. Hayes, 18, of Junction City, was arrested Thursday and charged with rape and kidnapping, both class-Y felonies. He made his first court appearance on Monday with 35th District Court Judge Jack Barker presiding.
Before the court, State Prosecutor Greg Thomas recommended a $100,000 bond, cash or corporate surety, for Hayes.
“This is based on the seriousness of the conduct and the fact that the other co-defendants have the same bond,” Thomas said.
Barker agreed with the prosecutor’s recommendation.
Hayes is being held in lieu of a $100,000 bond.
In court, Hayes said, he would hire his own attorney.
The Union County Sheriff’s Office is working with Arkansas State Police on the case involving Hayes and three other suspects who are facing similar charges: Taylor Cupp, 17; Triston Bynum, 18; and Rafael Soto, 20.
Deputy Jamie Morrow has been working on the above listed rape and kidnapping cases for the past month and a half. Morrow said one victim was involved with Hayes’ case, but couldn’t release any further details.
At first appearance court on April 8, Cupp and Soto hired their own attorneys, while Bynum was assigned a public defender. Cupp is facing two counts of rape and one count of kidnapping, Soto is facing one count of rape and two counts of kidnapping, and Bynum is facing two counts of kidnapping and one count of rape. Cupp, Soto, and Bynum all had enhancement charges added for allegedly engaging in violent criminal group activity.
Since first appearances Cupp’s attorney, Rickey Hicks, filed a motion on April 17 to reduce Cupp’s bond and transfer his case to juvenile court. According to the documents, the alleged crime happened on August 1, 2016, when he was 16; therefore he should be tried as a juvenile.
Also, Hicks filed a request to reduce Cupp’s bond from a $100,000 bond to a $10,000 bond,
bond to a $10,000 bond, cash or corporate surety.
Soto and Bynum haven’t made any further appearances in Union County Circuit Court.
While their cases are under review, all the suspects are bound to circuit court for further proceedings, confined to a curfew, limited by no-contact orders, and restricted from alcohol, non-prescription drugs and firearms.