BENTON COUNTY, ARKANSAS, Ark. — Graphic warning: This story contains details of alleged sexual violence against children. Read with caution.
A Springdale man has pleaded not guilty to raping, sexually assaulting, and grooming a child, according to court documents.
While entering his plea on June 25, the court also filed a no-contact order against 31-year-old Edim Munoz. He is not allowed to contact the child he is accused of sexually abusing or any other minors.
Munoz will appear in court next for a hearing on Sept. 24. His jury trial is set for Nov. 19.
Details of the case
On May 9, the Springdale Police Department (SPD) received a 911 call reporting the sexual assault of a child.
Court documents said a person living in the same house as Munoz woke up that morning with a bad feeling and decided to check the security cameras positioned throughout the home.
The woman reportedly noticed that although she couldn't find Munoz or a child on the cameras, the bathroom door was shut.
According to police, she got up and tried to open the bathroom door, which was locked.
Shortly after, Munoz walked out of the bathroom and the child, identified by police as the victim, was also in the bathroom. Munoz said he was just getting toilet paper, but the child allegedly disclosed that they had just been sexually abused by Munoz.
Police claim that after speaking with the child, investigators learned Munoz had sexually abused and raped the child "multiple times."
On the same day as the 911 call, police arrested Munoz from his work and transported him to the Springdale Police Department for questioning.
While there, Munoz reportedly admitted to putting the cameras throughout the home because "he did not trust himself around the children."
Police say Munoz admitted to raping the child seven times and cited five instances of sexual assault beginning in January 2024.
SPD was originally seeking the following charges against Munoz: Seven counts of rape, four counts of sexual assault in the second degree, and one count of sexually grooming a child.
Munoz is now only facing three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, and one count of sexually grooming a child, according to the court docket.
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