Man faces additional sexual-abuse charges
TEXARKANA, Ark. — A man who recently finished serving prison time in Texas for several felonies involving the sexual abuse of a child is facing similar charges now in Miller County.
Steven Wayne Whitworth, 34, pleaded guilty in Dallas County, Texas, to aggravated sexual assault of a child and two counts of indecency with a child by sexual contact, according to court records. Whitworth was sentenced to a six-year prison term in December 2015.
In 2016, the mother of a young female relative of Whitworth’s was discussing the matter with her and asked, “Do you believe he did that?”
The young girl replied, “Yes. Because I am that girl,” according to a probableaffidavit on file in Miller County.
The girl told a forensic interviewer at the Texarkana Children’s Advocacy Center that she was afraid Whitworth’s alleged abuse of her might continue upon his release from prison. She reported that beginning when she was 12 and continuing until she was 14, Whitworth sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions when he found her alone.
The girl said she was afraid to report Whitworth previously because he had threatened to hurt her if she told anyone.
Whitworth is facing two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in Miller County. He is being held in the Miller County jail with bail set at $250,000.
Should Whitworth make bond, he is forbidden any contact with the alleged victim or any other minor child.
If found guilty of rape, Whitworth faces 10 to 40 years or life in an Arkansas prison.