PARAGOULD, Ark. — A Paragould man accused of sexually assaulting a child under the age of 14 has been arrested in Tennessee, according to law enforcement officials.
Jonathan Hawkins, 35, is being held at the Greene County Detention Center on a $250,000 cash or surety bond. A Greene County District Court judge found probable cause to charge Hawkins with second-degree sexual assault, following an investigation initiated by local authorities and the Arkansas Child Abuse Hotline.
The case began on July 29 when the hotline reported allegations of child sexual abuse to the Paragould Police Department. The child later disclosed to a state investigator with the Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children Division details of alleged sexual acts that officials said meet the criteria for second-degree sexual assault under Arkansas law. The child identified Hawkins as the suspected offender, according to investigators.
Sgt. Jacob Higdon with the Paragould Police Department stated that testimony from several witnesses corroborated the alleged victim’s account. Higdon said these witnesses reported hearing a consistent version of events directly from the child and described previous comments and actions by Hawkins as "inappropriate."
Police also recovered text messages from Hawkins, which reportedly included statements of apology, denials of certain allegations, and a message where he stated, "I do not think I groped anyone."
According to the investigation, a person confronted Hawkins about the allegations via phone and text before the police became involved. Authorities say Hawkins left his workplace in Jonesboro early that day and appeared to turn off his cell phone shortly afterward. Surveillance cameras later captured images of Hawkins in Tipton County, Tennessee, prompting him to be listed as a missing person.
Hawkins was apprehended on July 31 and returned to Greene County to face charges. If released on bond, court records indicate Hawkins has been ordered to wear a GPS ankle monitor and avoid all contact with the alleged victim.
Authorities are withholding certain details, including the age and gender of the alleged victim, to protect their identity. The case remains under investigation.