FAYETTEVILLE (KFSM) — Police say a Fayetteville man admitted to carrying on a months-long sexual relationship with a teen about four years ago.
Bernardino Perez-Martinez, 43, was arrested Monday (Oct. 7) in connection with rape — a Class Y felony.
Last month the girl, now 17, reported that Perez-Martinez had sex with her when she was 12 and 13, according to an arrest report.
Fayetteville police brought Perez-Martinez in Thursday (Oct. 3) for an interview, where he admitted to having sex with the teen several times a month for nearly a year.
He told police the “relationship began as a fling, but he eventually developed feelings for the child,” according to the affidavit.
Perez-Martinz also said he only had work ties to the area and would’ve fled to Mexico had he known the girl was going to report him to police.
Perez-Martinez was being held at the Washington County Detention Center with no bond set and a hold for federal court.
Class Y felonies are the most serious crimes in Arkansas not punishable by death. A person convicted of a Class Y felony could face life in prison, according to Arkansas Code Annotated 5-4-401.
