HS man sentenced to prison for rape
A Hot Springs man was sentenced to 20 years in prison Monday after pleading guilty in Garland County Circuit Court to the rape of a 7-year-old girl last year.
Ervin Dwain Mason III, 35, who has remained in custody on zero bond since his arrest May 18, 2016, pleaded guilty to the felony charge, punishable by up to life in prison, with all court costs and fees expunged for time served.
Chief Deputy Prosecutor Joe Graham said Monday Mason will have to serve
70 percent of his sentence, or about 14 years, before he is eligible for parole.
Graham noted he consulted with the family of the victim who agreed to the plea offer in the case.
According to the affidavit, on May 15, 2016, the Garland County Sheriff ’s Department was notified of a report from the Arkansas Child Abuse Hotline regarding
the sexual abuse of a 7-year-old female by a known person, later identified as Mason.
The next day, the victim was interviewed at the Cooper Anthony Child Mercy Advocacy Center and reportedly disclosed Mason had sexual contact with her while both of them were at a residence in Hot Springs.
She stated Mason molested her and forced her to touch his privates during the incident.
On May 18, Mason was interviewed by sheriff’s investigators and stated he had applied ointment to the victim’s privates. He stated he did not take the victim to the doctor over the victim’s complaint of itching and redness.
Mason also admitted that on one occasion the victim touched his privates, but he denied the other allegations of abuse.
Based on the charges, a felony warrant was issued for Mason, who was already in custody on an unrelated charge of failure to appear. He was served with the new charge while still at the Garland County Detention Center.