A Rector man originally accused of raping a child has been sentenced to six years in state prison after pleading guilty to a reduced charge of second-degree sexual assault.
Melvin Lamar, 73, entered a negotiated plea agreement in the Second Judicial Circuit Court on Oct. 28, admitting to the Class B felony. Judge Chris Thyer sentenced Lamar to 72 months in the Arkansas Division of Correction, with credit for 285 days already served. The sentence also includes an additional 72 months of suspended imposition of sentence.
As part of the sentence, Lamar is required to register as a sex offender and pay court costs and fees upon his release. He is also prohibited from having any contact with the victim or witnesses in the case.
According to authorities, Lamar was arrested in January by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office after a woman reported an incident involving her child, who was under the age of 14, to the Rector Police Department. Rector police referred the case to the sheriff’s office, which worked with the Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children Division to conduct interviews related to the investigation.
Further details about the case, including the age or sex of the victim, were withheld to protect their identity.
Lamar's conviction follows the negotiated plea, which reduced the charge from its original count of rape to second-degree sexual assault.