x
Breaking News
More () »

Former Child Shelter Worker Faces Sexual Assault Charges In Three Counties

PARIS (KFSM) — A former children’s shelter worker was booked into the Logan County Jail Wednesday (Oct. 26) on suspicion of second-degree sexual ass...

PARIS (KFSM) -- A former children's shelter worker was booked into the Logan County Jail Wednesday (Oct. 26) on suspicion of second-degree sexual assault, according to the sheriff's office.

Ethan Riley was transferred from the Sebastian County Jail where is facing the same charge, according to court documents. Riley is also facing a second-degree sexual assault charge and an additional two counts of rape in Franklin County, the documents show.

The charges in the three counties involve the same victim.

A probable cause affidavit filed in Franklin County states investigators began looking into a complaint against Riley on Aug. 23, 2016. The complaint describes an inappropriate relationship between Riley, a recently-fired employee of the Maggie House in Charleston, and a pre-teen girl who lived there, according to the affidavit.

The documents state Riley was employed at the Maggie House as a residential tech, who was responsible for the day-to-day care of residents, from late 2015 through Aug. 15, 2016.

Riley began communicating with the victim via email in March 2016 and continued the communication until Aug. 28, according to the documents. When staff members at Maggie House became aware of the exchanges, they attempted to end the relationship Aug. 11 by ordering Riley to stop communicating with the victim and fired Riley four days later when they found out he still had not stopped, the documents state.

The emails included statements about kissing and pregnancy claims, according to the documents.

The victim told investigators she was sexually assaulted at a movie theater in Fort Smith, at the Maggie House and at a pond in Paris, the probable cause documents state.

Before You Leave, Check This Out