A former employee of the Izard County Sheriff’s Office, who won a statewide award last fall for his work as a peer specialist, was arrested recently for sexual solicitation. Fifty-two-year-old Joshua Lee Ramsey of Batesville was fired from the sheriff’s office April 11 according to Sheriff Charley Melton and the alleged incident happened three days later.
According to the probable cause affidavit from the Batesville Police Department, the victim told an investigator she met Ramsey after he replied to a post of hers on Facebook. He was able to get her into a rehab program in Jonesboro to help with her drug addiction.
The victim was kicked out of the program, so she called Ramsey who went and picked her up and brought her back to Batesville. She explained she was going to be homeless, so Ramsey paid for a hotel room. She told the investigator, she was getting her stuff, and when she turned around, Ramsey’s pants were undone. She said Ramsey had talked about how much he had done for her and she wanted to be left alone, so she performed a sexual act so he would leave her alone.
The victim said after that night, Ramsey continued to text her, offering to pay her for sex. Those texts were turned over to police. She says she has known Ramsey for about three years, and he has repeatedly texted asking her for sex.
During his interview with the investigator, Ramsey denied trying anything. When asked how many girls he has tried something with, he replied “I mean, I cheat on my wife.”
Ramsey is charged with one count of sexual solicitation, a misdemeanor. He is free on bond. The case is still open and being investigated according to Batesville Police.
Ramsey worked for the Izard County Sheriff’s Office from Feb. 2021 until April 11 as a Peer Specialist. In August, he was named the Arkansas Peer Specialist of the Year for his work in helping those with addiction problems and their families. The Peer Program is funded through federal grants.
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