HS man charged with sexual assault
A local man was arrested early Monday on felony charges stemming from allegations he exposed himself to an underage girl and sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions several years ago.
Brandon N. Duncan, 35, who lists a Leeper Street address, was taken into custody around 5:30 a.m. and charged with second-degree sexual assault, punishable by up to 20 years in
prison, and sexual indecency with a child, punishable by up to six years. He was later released on $7,500 bond and is set to appear May 2 in Garland County District Court.
According to the affidavit, the victim, who is now 14, was interviewed Feb. 17 at Cooper Anthony Mercy Child Advocacy Center and said Duncan had exposed himself to her when she was younger than 10 years old, and fondled her when she was 10 or 11 years old.
She said the first incident occurred while she was at Duncan’s residence and he came into the bedroom as she was undressing. When she noticed him enter the room, she was completely naked, and attempted to cover herself. She said Duncan then proceeded to pull down his shorts and expose part of his privates. He then partially covered himself with his hand and asked the victim, “Are we OK now?”
The victim stated that she went into the bathroom, still naked, and Duncan followed her. He then proceeded to sit near the tub and watch her while she bathed. Shortly after she entered the bath, the victim squirted Duncan with a water toy and he became upset. This prompted him to expose himself again, she said.
After the first incident, the victim said she reported what happened to her family and elders of her church, but nothing was done.
When the victim was 10 or 11 years old, she said she began returning to Duncan’s residence to baby-sit his daughter. She alleges that during these times, Duncan would touch her on her thighs and compliment how nice her legs were. She stated that he would also grab her buttocks whenever he gave her hugs.
On March 3, investigator Taylor Griffie, with the Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children Division, interviewed the victim’s mother, 41, who allegedly confirmed her daughter had “disclosed the exposure and abuse” by Duncan directly after it happened. She said her family urged her not to contact law enforcement and to let the church handle it, and she agreed.
The mother stated her daughter again disclosed to her in October 2015 about the later incidents “after nothing had been done.” Hot Springs police detective Kenny May also spoke to the mother and was given the same statement of events, the affidavit states.
On March 23, May spoke to an elder at the church where the victim and her family attend. The elder reportedly stated he was part of two investigations concerning Duncan and the victim.
He stated that the victim did disclose all of the same information to him at the time, and it was handled within the church and not reported to law enforcement. According to the elder, the most recent investigation was two years ago, and her initial accusations came about two to three year prior to that.