Bella Vista man pleads not guilty to raping three girls

 Garcia-Serrano
Garcia-Serrano

BENTONVILLE -- A Bella Vista man pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges accusing him of raping three girls.

Martin Garcia-Serrano, 22, entered the plea during his arraignment before Circuit Judge Brad Karren. He's charged with three counts of rape.

The proceedings were suspended shortly after Garcia-Serrano entered the plea.

His attorney, Candice Smith, told the judge she planned to file a motion seeking a mental evaluation to determine if Garcia-Serrano is fit to stand trial.

The judge suspended the proceedings pending the outcome of the mental evaluation at Ozark Guidance in Springdale.

A mental status hearing is set for 8 a.m. Nov. 12.

Garcia-Serrano was arrested Aug. 21. The arrest came after a 12-year-old boy told his mother he saw Garcia-Serrano sexually abusing two girls, according to a probable cause affidavit. The woman reported the incident to police.

The girls were 8 and 10 years old, according to court documents.

The boy said Garcia-Serrano threatened to "beat him up" in the past and he was afraid Garcia-Serrano would hurt him if he said anything, according to the probable cause affidavit.

The girls were interviewed at the Children's Advocacy Center of Benton County.

Both girls gave details of being sexually abused by Garcia-Serrano, according to court documents. The 10-year-old reported Garcia-Serrano began trying to touch her when she was 5, the probable cause affidavit states. The 8-year-old girl said the abuse began when she was 6, according to court documents.

Garcia-Serrano admitted to sexually abusing the two girls during an interview with police, according to court documents. He also admitted he had the girls watch pornographic movies with him.

Police learned of the third victim, a 10-year-old girl, while investigating the case.

Garcia-Serrano is being held in the Benton County Jail with a $150,000 bond set.

If convicted of rape, Garcia-Serrano could be sentenced from 25 to 40 years in prison or life on each count.

NW News on 09/18/2015

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