Gentry man arrested for raping 9-year-old

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

— Police arrested Miguel Maldonado Hernandez for allegedly raping a 9-year-old girl.

Hernandez, 52, was arrested for rape and sexual assault in the first degree and was booked into the Benton County Jail shortly after 10 p.m. Saturday.

Gentry police responded to a call Friday night after the girl's father reported the possible sexual assaults by Hernandez, according to Gentry Police Sergeant Clay Stewart.

During an interview at the Children's Advocacy Center of Benton County, the girl described being abused on multiple occasions by Hernandez. The girl claimed he threatened her with a knife, according to court documents.

A forensic medical examination revealed injuries consistent with the girl's claims, Stewart said.

Hernandez, who was interviewed in Spanish by Cave Springs Police Sergeant Miguel Cordova, at first denied abusing the girl but later admitted to sexual contact with the girl on three different occasions, Stewart said. The assaults took place over the past year, with the most recent being last week.

The incidents allegedly occurred at Hernandez' home at 205 S. Rust Street in Gentry, police said.

Hernandez is charged with two counts of rape, class Y felonies, and one count of sexual assault in the first degree, a class A felony. Hernandez was being held in the Benton County Jail, with bond set at $75,000.

Tracy M. Neal contributed to this story.

News, Pages 1 on 08/19/2009