Photo: David Allen Carleton
A Baxter County man, who is a registered sex offender, has been arrested for the alleged sexual assault of an autistic male teen who lives next door to him. Fifty-nine-year-old David Allen Carleton was arrested Thursday for several felony charges in connection with the case, after being arrested last Friday on other charges connected to the case.
According to probable cause statements in the case, the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office started the investigation into Carleton Aug. 5, after the mother of the 15-year-old boy told her Carleton had allegedly molested him while the two swam at the Robinson Point Campground in July. During an interview at Grandma’s House Children’s Advocacy Center, the boy told investigators Carleton grabbed his privates very hard while they were swimming.
The boy said Carleton had taken him and his brother fishing and swimming numerous times on area lakes and rivers and had recently bought them toys and other items. He also said Carleton had “tickled” him while visiting his house, and on one other occasion, had tried to grab his privates.
After the boy’s mother called the Arkansas Crimes Against Children Hotline to report the incidents and officers left Carleton’s residence after interviewing him, it’s alleged Carleton immediately went to his neighbor’s house and yelled “payback time…you thought you got me but I got you,” while laughing maniacally. The boy told his mom Carleton had threatened to “shoot him while he was in his fort,” and he was going to sexually assault him. The fort he referred to is a small shed the boy and his brother play in.
Carleton was originally arrested for felony terroristic threatening last Friday and was released on $10,000 bond. Thursday he was arrested on felony charges of sexual assault in the fourth degree and intimidating a witness. He was released from jail for those charges, after posting $15,000 bond. He is set to appear in Baxter County Circuit Court Aug. 27.
Carleton is a Level 2 registered sex offender in the state of Arkansas. He was found guilty in Baxter County Circuit Court in March of 2008 of possession of child pornography.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI