A Midway man has been arrested on multiple charges involving sexual contact with children, Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery said Monday afternoon.
Loy Gene Beard, 74, was arrested following an investigation launched in late March after the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint pertaining to Beard. Investigators were able to present enough evidence to the prosecuting attorney that allowed Beard to be charged with several felonies, Montgomery said.
Deputies located Beard Monday morning and arrested him. He has been charged with four felonies: rape, second degree sexual assault, sexual indecency with a child and sexually grooming of a child by a person 21 years of age or older.
Beard is being held in lieu of a $150,000 bond, and a no-contact order prohibiting him from having contact with anyone under the age of 18 has been issued.
A circuit judge has issued an order to seal the probable cause affidavit and the prosecutor’s information in the case, and because of this, no descriptions of the allegations or evidence will be disclosed at this time, Montgomery’s news release notes.
The release states investigators believe there may be other victims of Beard that have not contacted law enforcement. Any other victims or persons having knowledge of the allegations are asked to contact Sheriff’s Office Investigator Dwight Duch at 870-425-7000. Duch may also be reached through email at dduch@baxtercountysheriff.com.
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