Man charged in sex abuse of 3-year-old boy

MOUNTAIN VIEW — Authorities charged a Stone County man with rape and sexual indecency with a child after investigators said the man admitted to sexually assaulting a 3-year-old boy.

Mark Wayne Martin, 21, is being held in the Stone County jail in Mountain View in lieu of a $100,000 bond.

Justin Meeks, an investigator with the Stone County sheriff’s office, said he received information about Martin on July 31, according to an arrest affidavit filed in Stone County Circuit Court.

Meeks and officers with the Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children Division questioned Martin that day, and Martin admitted to assaulting the boy, officers said. Officials said in a probable-cause affidavit that Martin assaulted the boy April 15 and July 18.

Martin faces two counts of rape and one count of sexual indecency, both felonies.