Photo: Jesse Aaron Avant
A not guilty plea was entered Thursday in Baxter County Circuit Court on behalf of a Level 2 sex offender charged with the rape of a 14-year-old female in Baxter County Circuit Court Thursday.
The plea was entered by Justin Downum, attorney for 30-year-old Jesse Aaron Avant of Gamaliel.
On Dec. 22 last year, a report was filed with the Mountain Home Police Department in which the victim indicated she had had sex with Avant.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Avant had been at a relative’s residence in Mountain Home when the incident occurred.
Avant was required to register as a sex offender in 2012 after being found guilty of aggravated sexual assault on a child in Texas.
The victim in the Baxter County case is said to have alleged she had also had contact with Avant through various social media platforms.
She reported sending nude photos of herself to Avant on one of those platforms. When interviewed, Avant is reported to have admitted to the sexual contact and receiving a nude photo of the victim, which he said he had deleted.
Avant is free on $100,000 bond.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI