Brent Atherton was scheduled to enter a guilty plea and be sentenced to a number of charges stemming from the attempted rape of a 17-year old Mountain Home girl in mid-May last year during a session of Baxter County Circuit Court Thursday. However, the plea and sentencing were delayed until June 28th.
Atherton, who is a registered sex offender in Marion County, had originally been scheduled for a jury trial in early July. It was announced during a recent circuit court session he was opting to make a plea to the court, meaning Judge John Putman will serve as both judge and jury in deciding his sentence. Apparently, Judge Putman wanted to review some aspects of the proposed sentence resulting in the postponement announced Thursday.
The 46-year old Atherton, who has been in the Baxter County jail since May 17th of last year with bond set at $50,000, 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 female 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 shortly after midnight. They located Atherton running naked within approximately a quarter-mile from the residence where the incident took place. He was arrested without incident.
Atherton is listed 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 that charge in August last year.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI