Photo: Karlee Taylor
A Gassville woman pled guilty to charges of having inappropriate contact with a 15-year-old male and was sentenced to six years probation during a session of Baxter County Circuit Court Monday.
Twenty-five-year-old Karlee Taylor was initially accused of first-degree sexual assault, but the state announced the charge was being reduced to assault since the facts in the case, as they were developed during the investigation, did not fit the original charge.
Taylor was represented by Emily Reed of Mountain Home and L. Gray Dellinger of Melbourne.
The details of the events leading to the charge have been largely unknown, since the probable cause affidavit is sealed at the request of prosecutors.
In approving the request to seal the three-page document in June 2018, Circuit Judge John Putman wrote if the information contained in the affidavit was released, “it could compromise the anonymity of the victim or victims.”
The court retained its authority to release the affidavit and directed prosecutors to immediately notify the court when that could be done.
In reciting the facts in the case, 14th Judicial District Deputy Prosecutor Kerry Chism said Taylor had been in a “tutor-student-type-situation” when the contact took place. Chism told Judge Putman he had discussed the amended charge with the victim’s mother “and she is okay with it.”
The incident was reported to have happened in late June 2018.
Taylor was arrested and booked into the Baxter County Detention Center July 3 last year. Records show she was in and out of the jail in 27 minutes. A bond of $10,000 was posted.
According to the Arkansas Criminal Code, in order to prove first-degree sexual assault, the state would have to show the alleged perpetrator had sex with a person under 18-years-old, when the perpetrator was in a position of trust or authority over the victim, including:
— A person employed by the victim’s school or school district.
— An employee of a number of law enforcement-related agencies, including the State Department of Correction or a city or county jail.
According to the criminal code, it is no defense to claim victim consent to the sexual activity.
Because the charge was amended, Taylor will not have to register as a sex offender.
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