Man, 20, arrested for alleged rape of 13-year-old girl during summer

A 20-year-old Hot Springs man was arrested Wednesday morning for the alleged rape of a

13-year-old female last summer. Cody Wayne Vessel Jr., who lists a Buxton Loop address, was taken into custody shortly after

9 a.m. at a business on Pakis Street and charged with a felony count of rape, punishable by up to life in prison.

He remained in custody Thursday on zero bond and is set to appear today in Garland County District Court.

According to the probable cause affidavit, on Jan. 1, a report was filed with Garland County sheriff’s investigators regarding the alleged rape of a 13-year-old female by a known suspect.

The alleged victim was interviewed the next day at the Cooper Anthony Mercy Child Advocacy Center by forensic interviewer Brandi Cannon which was observed by sheriff’s investigators Jennifer Tonseth and Lyniya Johnson.

During the interview, the victim stated she was raped by Vessel, who she also knows as C.J., in July 2018 at a residence in Garland County. She stated C.J. was 20 years old and she had known him for about four years.

She said she went into a bedroom at the residence and fell asleep. She said Vessel came in and indicated he wanted to have sex, but she told him no. She said he was able to undress her and then raped her. She then pushed him off and he left the room, she said.

On Jan. 31, Vessel was interviewed at the sheriff’s department by Tonseth and allegedly admitted he had known the victim since she was 11 years old. He initially denied having forcible or consensual sex with her, but later during the interview he reportedly admitted he had consensual sex with her that night.

Vessel was not charged at that time, but a warrant for his arrest was issued on Tuesday and he was arrested the next day.