JOHNSON COUNTY, ARKANSAS, Ark. — According to the Johnson County Sheriff's Office (JCSO), authorities have arrested a 19-year-old man after receiving reports for almost three years of potential sexual abuse against multiple teens 14 and younger.
The investigation began in June 2021, when two girls, aged 13 and 14, reportedly told JCSO that Jaylin Philips was having "inappropriate contact" with them.
In September 2021, a "prosecution report and affidavit requesting charges ... were submitted to the prosecutor’s office," said the JCSO.
In July 2022, JCSO reportedly received another report that Phillips had been sexually abusing another girl multiple times back when she was 8 years old. Authorities said they discovered at this time Phillips was "dating another 13-year-old girl."
In January 2023, a prosecution report and arrest affidavits for Phillips were resubmitted to the prosecutor's office, JCSO said.
In late February 2024, the affidavits were once again resubmitted to the prosecutor's office "per their request," and investigators began searching for him the next day after two sexual assault warrants were issued.
On March 1, 2024, Philips was arrested by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office and later transferred to Johnson County for booking.
According to prosecuting attorney Jeff Phillips, the previous cases against Jaylin were when he was a minor and authorities had trouble finding him. Since Jaylin is now an adult, they were able to process charges against him.
JCSO asks residents with any information about Phillips' alleged criminal activity to call their Criminal Investigation Division at (479) 754-2200.
5NEWS will update this article as more information becomes available.
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