BENTONVILLE -- A Garfield man was sentenced to 10 years in prison for raping a 15-year-old girl.
John Matlock, 36, pleaded no contest Monday to rape and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The plea came under an agreement attorney Rachel Stills reached with Stuart Cearley, chief deputy prosecutor.
Matlock's jury trial was scheduled to start Tuesday, but the plea resolved the criminal case.
He was arrested Sept. 29, 2013.
The 15-year-old girl reported she and a 12-year-old girl went to Matlock's home, according to court documents. The teen reported that Matlock provided the two girls alcohol and he then raped her, according to the probable cause affidavit.
Circuit Judge Brad Karren accepted the plea agreement and Matlock's no-contest plea.
Matlock was sentenced to 10 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction. He also must abide by a suspended sentence agreement for 15 years after his release from prison. Matlock will be required to register as a sex offender.
Matlock received 426 days of jail credit for the time he spent in the Benton County Jail awaiting trial. He must pay $2,120 in court costs.
Tracy M. Neal can be reached by email at [email protected] or Twitter @NWATracy.
NW News on 03/11/2015