Man, 32, indicted in alleged misconduct with 14-year-old girl
A Cass County, Texas, man accused of sexual misconduct with a 14-year-old girl has been indicted on nine felony charges.
Jarrod Michael Taylor, 32, is accused of sending the girl a number of sexually graphic photos and videos and of sexually assaulting the girl while she was visiting at a friend’s home in Bivins, Texas, in March, according to a probable cause affidavit used to create the following account. The girl’s mother made a report March 23 to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office after finding multiple photos on her daughter’s phone of Taylor allegedly exposing himself.
On May 24, the girl was interviewed at the Children’s Advocacy Center in Texarkana, Texas. She told a forensic interviewer she is acquainted with Taylor because he is related to one of her friends. The alleged victim said Taylor began sending her messages via Instagram in February and then text messages after he asked for her phone number. After receiving the mother’s permission to search the girl’s phone, investigators allegedly recovered multiple, sexually graphic photos and videos Taylor allegedly sent to the teen.
Taylor allegedly convinced the girl to walk with him into a wooded area while she was visiting the friend March 14. Taylor allegedly touched the girl in various ways and forced her to touch him, the affidavit alleges.
Taylor was indicted earlier this month in Cass County on one count of sexual assault of a child, six counts of online solicitation of a minor and two counts of indecency with a child by contact. Sexual assault of a child and each of the two counts of indecency with a child by contact are punishable by two to 20 years in prison. Each of the six counts of solicitation is punishable by two to 10 years in prison.