Man’s trial starts on charges of child sexual assault

FAYETTEVILLE — Trial began Monday for a Washington County man accused of sexually molesting a child more than a decade ago.

Adam Jeremy Ryba, 39, is charged with two counts of second-degree sexual assault with a victim under 14 years of age.

If convicted, Ryba faces five to 20 years in prison and a $15,000 fine on each count.

The alleged abuse happened in 2008 and 2009, according to prosecutors. The victim would have been 5 or 6 years old at the time.

The allegations did not come to light until late 2020 when a call was made to an Arkansas State Police hotline.

Debbee Deckard, a forensic interviewer with the Children’s Safety Center of Northwest Arkansas, testified it is not uncommon for sexual assault victims to wait a long time to disclose abuse. Deckard told jurors that victims often feel fear or shame or somehow feel the abuse is their fault.

In an interview with police, Ryba denied ever having sexual contact with the girl when she was a child.

The woman was interviewed by a forensic interviewer prior to charges being filed against Ryba.

On the stand Monday, the woman detailed the abuse for jurors. She said at the time she was young and did not realize she was actually being sexually abused. The woman testified Ryba told her not to tell anyone.

A relative of the woman testified that Ryba made sexual advances toward her as well during the same time period.

“It made me extremely uncomfortable,” the woman said. “I didn’t like being alone with him.”

Prosecutors rested their case Monday afternoon. The defense then asked Washington County Circuit Judge Joanna Taylor to throw the case out for lack of credible evidence, including no evidence of Ryba receiving sexual gratification.

Taylor denied the defense motion for directed verdict.

Taylor said the state had presented sufficient evidence to proceed to the jury and it will be up to the jury to judge the credibility of the state’s witnesses.

The defense had not decided Monday whether Ryba would take the stand in his own defense when the case resumes this morning.