Tate pleads not guilty to rape

BENTONVILLE — A Garfield man pleaded not guilty Monday to rape and child pornography charges.

Steven Eugene Tate, 40, is charged with two counts of rape, which is a Class Y felony, and five counts of distributing, possession or viewing matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child, a Class C felony. He pleaded not guilty to the charges during an arraignment before Circuit Judge Jon Comstock.

Tate was arrested July 2, according to court documents. According to the documents, the mother of a 14-year-old girl reported her daughter disclosed Tate had sexually abused her for six years.

The girl was interviewed at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Benton County. She reported the abuse began when she was 8, and the last abusive incident was in August 2011, according to court documents.

Rogers police obtained a search warrant and went to Tate’s residence, according to court documents. Police found two computers and located some images of possible teenage females who were partially dressed, according to court documents.

Tate was released from the Benton County Jail last week after posting a $50,000 bond. He must wear a GPS ankle monitor as a condition of his bond.

Comstock also ordered Tate not to have any contact with the girl or have any unsupervised contact with any other minor. Tate also was prohibited from having any Internet access. An omnibus hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Sept. 27.