GENTRY — A call to the Arkansas State Police Child Abuse Hotline resulted in a Gentry man’s arrest in connection with fourth-degree sexual assault and the subsequent arrest of the child’s mother and stepfather for allegedly condoning and facilitating the sexual abuse.

Gentry police arrested Joseph Carl DeanFord, 27, of 491 Bloomfield St., on Aug. 13, according to Sgt. Clay Stewart of the Gentry Police Department.

State Police received the call because a 13-year-old girl had given birth to a baby. When investigators spoke with the girl, she identified Ford as the father, according to Stewart, and said she had been in a sexual relationship with Ford for a year and ahalf, with the relationship beginning when she was still 11.

The case was referred to Gentry police, who interviewed Ford on Aug. 10, Stewart said. Ford admitted to being sexually involved with the girl but not to knowing her age, according to Stewart. A warrant was issued Aug. 13 for Ford’s arrest, charging him with fourth-degree sexual assault, which is defined in Arkansas as sexual intercourse by a person 20 or older with a person 16 or younger and not theirspouse, a Class D Felony.

Ford was being held Friday in the Benton County Jail on a $20,000 bond.

Warrants were also obtained for Melissa Glass, 31, and George Head, 34, the girl’s mother and stepfather, now of Huntsville but formerly of Gentry, according to Stewart, for allegedly permitting the sexual abuse of a child.

Permitting the sexual abuse of a minor is a Class B Felony. Bond for Glass and Head was also set at $20,000, according to Stewart.

According to Stewart, additional charges may also be filed in Huntsville because the crimes allegedly continued there as well.

News, Pages 1 on 08/22/2012