Local woman accused of raping girl

Note: Formal charges were never filed in this case.

Gravette woman has been arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing a 10-year-old girl.

Candus Lee Roughton, 28, was arrested Friday on a charge of rape, a class Y felony.

According to an affidavit of probable cause in the case, Kenneth Paul, an investigator withthe Benton County Sheriff's Office, was assigned the case afterthe girl reported the alleged abuse to her counselors.

The girl claimed the incident occurred about a year ago. Sheclaimed Roughton had inappropriately touched her whileRoughton was spending the night at the girl's home, according to court documents.

The girl told family members about her claims, but they did not report to alleged crime to law enforcement, court documents state.

Roughton denied the allegations when question by Paul.

Roughton is being held in the Benton County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bond.

Community, Pages 8 on 07/29/2009