BENTONVILLE — A Lowell woman admitted she failed to protect two girls her husband was sexually abusing. Those two girls were the only reason Circuit Judge Robin Green accepted a plea agreement calling for Archer to spend five years on state supervised probation.
Rachel Leslie Archer, 31, pleaded guilty Tuesday to two counts of permitting the abuse of a minor, a Class B felony. She faced a prison sentence ranging from five to 20 years on each count.
The plea agreement was under an agreement Stuart Cearley, chief deputy prosecutor, reached with Archer’s attorney, Drew Ledbetter.
At A Glance
Rachel Archer’s Sentence
Rachel Archer was placed on five years of state supervised probation with Act 346. That means her record can be expunged if she successfully completes probation. She also was sentenced to 17 days in the Benton County Jail, must register as a sex offender and can not have any contact with the girls in this case until each turns 16.
Source: Staff Report
Archer was arrested May 25, 2011. Cearley told Green that Archer recklessly failed to take any action to prevent the sexual abuse of the two girls. The case stems from a rape case involving Archer’s husband, Daniel. He was arrested June 2011 in connection with raping the two girls.
The girls were interviewed at the Children’s Safety Center in Springdale, and they said Daniel Archer sexually abused them, according to court documents.
Rachel Archer told police the girls told her about the sexual abuse more than a year before their disclosure, according to court documents. The affidavit states Daniel Archer admitted to the sexual abuse and apologized for his actions.
The two girls were present during the plea Tuesday. They didn’t address the court. Cearley read statements from both girls describing how the case had impacted their lives.
Ledbetter told Green his client did call police and cooperated with the investigation.
Green accepted the plea agreement, but not before saying a few words to Rachel Archer.
“The only reason I’m accepting this agreement is the request of the victims,” Green said. “You are catching quite a break. The letters are heartbreaking.”
Daniel Archer was charged with two counts of rape. He died before his case could be resolved.