Authorities in Jonesboro have charged a 60-year-old man with sexually grooming a child under the age of 14, holding him on a $75,000 bond as the case moves forward.
Tim Ohler was taken into custody at the Craighead County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday, Aug. 5. He faces a Class D felony charge of sexually grooming a child and is set to appear in circuit court on Sept. 30.
According to a police affidavit, investigators began looking into the case on May 26 after the victim, who is under 14 years old, reported that Ohler engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including showing pornographic material.
Court documents revealed that after the child’s family confronted Ohler, he admitted during a recorded conversation that he “had a problem” and agreed to seek rehabilitation. The recording, later turned over to law enforcement, showed Ohler denying most of the allegations but corroborating some aspects. "Tim said that he did not know how to handle the situation…and was embarrassed to tell anyone about it,” the affidavit stated.
During questioning by a detective, Ohler described the matter as “just a big misunderstanding” and claimed the explicit conversations were initiated by the victim, who allegedly asked questions of a sexual nature.
On June 17, Judge Scott Ellington of the Second Judicial Circuit found probable cause for the charge and issued a bench warrant for Ohler's arrest. In addition to his bond conditions, Ohler has been ordered to have no contact with the victim and must wear a GPS ankle monitor if released.
Due to the graphic nature of the allegations and to protect the identity of the victim, authorities have declined to disclose further details about the child involved.
The case remains under investigation.