The Benton County assistant systems administrators was arrested Tuesday after police said he raped a teenage girl three years ago, according to a probable cause report filed in Benton County Circuit Court.
Shawn Allen Scott, 32, was booked into the Benton County jail on $30,000 bond and later released. He faces a felony charge of rape, according to the Bentonville Police Department.
Police said Scott raped a girl three years ago when she was 13 years old. Scott was arrested following an investigation that included a taped phone call and an interview with the suspect and the alleged victim’s mother, according to the probable cause report.
Scott is an information technology employee with the county, meaning he helps county employees with technical issues that include computer work and security technology, said Benton County Judge Bob Clinard.
Clinard said Scott is on paid administrative leave and has been asked to resign. If he does not resign, he will be fired, the judge said. Scott’s termination would come because of his inability to do his job with the county during the investigation, rather than directly because of the charges he is facing, Clinard said.
If Scott is acquitted or charges are dropped in the case, he will be eligible to re-apply for his old job, Clinard said.
The alleged victim told her mother Scott gave her wine and raped her on at least one occasion. The alleged victim said Scott also sexually assaulted her on at least one other occasion, although it is unclear how many alleged occurrences of sexual assault there may have been.
One of the instances occurred after the victim was upset in seventh grade over her relationship with a boy, police said. The girl noticed wine in Scott’s refrigerator and was given some by the suspect. He later touched her inappropriately, according to Bentonville police.
\Scott’s next court date is scheduled for April 28.
