An arrest warrant was served on Marion County Judge John Massey Tuesday afternoon for accusations of inappropriately touching an employee. The 60-year-old Massey is facing a misdemeanor count of public sexual indecency. He was released from the Marion County Law Enforcement Center nearly a half hour after being booked on a bond of $2,500.
According to the probable cause affidavit, a special agent with the Arkansas State Police interviewed the victim, who stated Judge Massey hired her three years ago as a secretary in the county shop. She alleges the judge started touching her inappropriately shortly after her hire. The victim claims Massey has put his hand down the back of her pants, and she stopped him from going down the front. She also alleges the judge would drive her around the county to “check roads,” and he would touch her inappropriately during that time.
The secretary advised she asked Judge Massey over the phone and in person to stop touching her. She claims his response was, “I don’t care,” and he would continue touching her.
The state police agent says during another interview, Judge Massey admitted he touched the victim inappropriately, but he “never touched her privates.” When the agent asked Massey if he remembered the victim asking him to stop touching her, Massey’s reported response was, “She never said that but one time and uhh, hell I don’t try to keep up with stuff like that.”
As the investigation continued, video surveillance was obtained from the Marion County Shop. The video allegedly shows on the afternoon of March 30, Judge Massey was moving his hand up and down the victim’s back side. When the judge was shown the video, he said it showed him giving her a “wedgy,” but he ultimately said his behavior was inappropriate.
Massey is serving his lone term as county judge since beating incumbent Terry Ott in the 2018 primary election. In May, Massey was defeated by Jason Stumph in this year’s primary.
Massey has a court date set for July 13.
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