JOHNSON COUNTY (KFSM) — A Johnson County Sheriff’s Office deputy sheriff who was arrested Monday (Nov. 28) on suspicion of third-degree sexual assault has been released from the Pope County Detention Center.
Robert Retford, 55, was released from jail about 3 p.m., Tuesday, according to the Pope County Sheriff’s Office.
David Gibbons Pope County prosecuting attorney said Retford was appointed a public defender during a hearing Tuesday morning. He was released on a $5,000 bond, has to surrender his passport, and isn’t allowed to go near the woman he reportedly assaulted.
Retford is set to appear in court Jan. 6, Gibbons said.
Retford was arrested in connection to a complaint that was made on Sept. 10, according to the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office. Arkansas State Police took over the investigation from there.
A woman, who Retford met while responding to a disturbance call, told investigators Retford had offered to help her, according to a probable cause affidavit. Retford rented her a room in a motel in Clarksville and left his card so she could contact him if she needed to, the affidavit states.
The following day, the victim asked Retford to drive her to a house in Lamar where they kissed in the car and she did whatever Retford told her to say and do, according to the affidavit. Retford touched the victim in a sexual way and made her touch him in a sexual way, the affidavit states.
The woman said Retford bought her some items from Dollar General and told her he would keep helping her if she helped him, according to the affidavit.
The two then went back to the house in Lamar where Retford, who was in his uniform at the time, told the victim she had to do everything he told her to or he would kill her and throw all her family members in jail, the affidavit states.
The victim told investigators Retford raped her with an object and then urinated on her, according to the affidavit.
When he was interviewed, Retford said the sexual acts between him and the victim were consensual and that he never threatened her, the affidavit states.
Retford has a court date scheduled for Jan. 6, 2017, according to jail records.
