Shawn Eaton sits in the Baxter County jail charged with having inappropriate sexual contact with young girls.
Everyone agrees jail is not the place for the 21-year-old Eaton, who functions at a very low level mentally, and authorities are attempting to develop a plan ensuring society is protected without resorting to locking Eaton up in the state prison system.
Fourteenth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney David Ethredge told KTLO News during a session of Baxter County Circuit Court Thursday he had a responsibility to ensure the public is safe from the type of behavior Eaton has exhibited. He also said locking Eaton up in prison did not appear to be the way to go given his condition, so it is hoped an acceptable alternative could be found. Ethredge said, however, if no acceptable plan could be developed, the state would proceed to trial in Eaton’s cases.
Circuit Judge Gordon Webb was on the bench Thursday, and he said he would make every effort to determine if there was a facility available meeting the twin goals of ensuring the public safety, as well as accommodating Eaton’s condition. Judge Webb said, “We are going to approach this with the safety of all concerned in mind.”
Eaton currently faces charges of sexual indecency with a child and two counts of second degree sexual assault. He was originally arrested in July of last year after Mountain Home Police were called to the Donald W. Reynolds Library. The victim in that case was an 11-year-old female who told officers a man — later identified as Eaton — came up to her in the library and touched her inappropriately. She told officers she pushed Eaton’s arm, he then stepped away a short distance and exposed himself.
There were other similar incidents afterward involving 10-and-11-year-old girls at a local business and outside a residence.
Eaton is alleged to have told investigators he engaged in such behavior frequently.
According to court records, in a guardianship case filed in late 2013, Eaton was described by a medical doctor as bipolar, and a guardian was appointed due to his condition.
Eaton was found not-fit-to-proceed by one doctor late last year and sent to the Arkansas State Hospital for treatment in mid-May. He was discharged after only a short time in the facility and declared fit-to-proceed in his cases. In a letter dated July 18th, the Forensic Service Program Coordinator with the Arkansas State Hospital said Eaton had “completed his inpatient restoration.”
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