Brent Atherton of Bull Shoals will plead guilty to charges stemming from the attempted rape of a 17-year-old Mountain Home girl in mid-May last year, according to an announcement made in Baxter County Circuit Court Thursday by Atherton’s attorney, Andrew Bailey. A sentencing hearing for Atherton is now set for May 24th.
Judge John Putman ordered a pre-sentencing report on Atherton in advance of the hearing.
Atherton, who is currently a registered sex offender in Marion County, was scheduled for a jury trial in early July, but chose to make a plea to the court instead, meaning Judge Putman will serve as both judge and jury.
The 46-year-old Atherton, who has been in the Baxter County jail since May 17th of last year with bond set at $500,000, is alleged to have entered the home where the girl lived, gone to the bedroom where she was sleeping, placed himself on top of the girl and covered her mouth with his hand. The girl told police her attacker was nude.
The victim resisted and was able to remove Atherton’s hand from her mouth allowing her to scream for help. A family friend staying at the residence heard the scream and came to the girl’s aid. When confronted, Atherton fled the residence carrying some of his clothing.
Mountain Home police officers were dispatched to the residence shortly after midnight. They located Atherton running naked within approximately a quarter-mile from the house where the incident took place. He was arrested without incident.
Atherton is already registered as a Level 3 sex offender. He was required to register after being convicted on charges of attempted rape and indecent exposure. He has also been charged in Marion County with failure to follow sex offender registration requirements. He was given 36 months probation on the failure to register charge in August last year.
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