Selfridge takes plea in case

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Jeremiah Selfridge of Mountain Home was given seven years in prison after changing his plea to guilty on charges stemming from his having sexual relations with a close female relative.

Selfridge had originally been charged with rape and incest, but 14th Judicial District Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Kerry Chism announced that the state was dropping the rape charge.

Selfridge will also be required to register as a sex offender.

The sentencing was handed down by Circuit Judge John Putman in a special time set aside by the court for taking the plea.

The 19-year-old Selfridge was charged after an incident that occurred at a residence along Buzzard Roost Cutoff. According to investigative records, Selfridge was visiting the victim’s residence on January 23rd last year. At bedtime, the victim said Selfridge asked if he could lay down on the bed with her.

She told investigators that, after a time, Selfridge began making advances toward her. She said she was unable to make him stop and was not capable of pushing the six-foot-one-inch Selfridge off of her and that he had sex with the victim.

Investigators reported that when they interviewed Selfridge, he admitted that he had sex with the victim.

At one point, the attorney then representing Selfridge had filed motions for a psychological examination to determine if Selfridge was fit to proceed in the cases against him. While the report based on the evaluation is sealed, it can be assumed that Selfridge was found fit to proceed since the case remained active.

Andrew Bailey, the attorney now representing Selfridge, had recently filed a motion in which the court was asked to permit the introduction of evidence of prior sexual conduct of the alleged victim in the case. In his motion, Bailey wrote that the evidence would be essential to the defense’s case because it demonstrated motivation for the alleged victim to make what Bailey characterized as “false allegations” against Selfridge, and could potentially demonstrate a pattern.

After a meeting in Judge John Putman’s chambers last Thursday, the announcement was made that Selfridge — rather than go to trial — would take a plea in the case.

At one time, Selfridge was also charged with stealing five firearms from another relative, but those charges were dropped in early October last year when the victim indicated he did not want to pursue the case.


   

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