Stamps man sentenced to 36 years for assaulting 8-year-old
LEWISVILLE, Ark. — A Stamps, Arkansas, man who physically and sexually assaulted an 8-year-old girl over the Thanksgiving holidays in 2017 was sentenced Friday to 36 years in prison as part of a plea agreement.
Eathan Jeremy Settle, 23, was arrested during the Thanksgiving holidays in 2017 on a charge of rape, according to a probable-cause affidavit. Settle was allegedly at a family member’s house on Calvin Street in Stamps when a neighbor heard an 8-year-old girl screaming and heard Settle make a statement which alerted the neighbor the girl was being sexually abused.
Responding officers noted the girl’s left eye and cheek and blood coming from the child’s mouth. Scratches were observed on her neck. Settle struck the girl several times in the face before sexually assaulting her.
Settle committed other crimes while in the Lafayette County jail.
Settle attacked another inmate with a shank fashioned from a plastic spork, a fork and spoon combination utensil, on April 28, 2019, according to an affidavit. As a correctional officer attempted to remove Settle from the jail pod,
Settle threatened him with bodily harm.
Settle was sentenced to 20 years for sexual assaulting the girl, 10 years for assaulting a fellow inmate and six years for possessing a prohibited item in the jail. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Connie Mitchell said all the terms will run consecutively for a total 36-year sentence.
“We are pleased that Mr. Settle accepted responsibility for his actions,” Mitchell said. “In doing so, he spared this young lady the trauma of testifying about the sexual abuse she suffered. He also accepted responsibility for his unlawful behavior while incarcerated in the Lafayette County jail. This prison sentence will keep this young lady, as well as the citizens and employees of Lafayette, safe for years to come.”
Upon release from prison, Settle must register as a sex offender.
Circuit Judge Carlton Jones presided over the case.