BENTONVILLE -- A mental evaluation has been requested for a former Life Way Christian School teacher accused of sex crimes involving one of his students.
Richard Thomas Riley, 34, of Centerton is charged with sexual assault and distributing, possessing or viewing matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child, both felonies. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Riley is accused of having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old student and having nude photographs of the girl, according to court documents.
Sam Hall, Riley's attorney, requested a mental evaluation for Riley during a hearing Wednesday.
Circuit Judge Brad Karren granted the request and suspended proceedings pending the outcome of the evaluation. A mental status hearing is scheduled July 14.
Riley, who was arrested Feb. 27, is free on $50,000 bond.
Luke Bowers, an administrator with the Christian school in Centerton, has said Riley was fired.
Riley worked for the school since 2013. He taught physical science and world history, primarily to freshmen and sophomores. He served in the military before joining Life Way and has a master's degree in education, Bowers said.
The case was referred to the Benton County Sheriff's Office's cyber crime division after a father reported he found sexually explicit messages and nude images from Riley's Facebook Messenger to his daughter on an iPad, according to the probable cause affidavit.
The girl was interviewed and said she sent nude photographs of herself to Riley, according to court documents. The girl said she had sex with Riley numerous times at his home, and she thought they were in an exclusive relationship.
Riley told detectives he sent nude photographs to the girl and received photos from her, according to the affidavit.
Riley at first denied the girl had been to his home, but in a second interview said he had sex with her multiple times, sometimes at his home, according to the affidavit.
Detectives also found love letters between Riley and the girl, according to court documents.
Riley has been ordered not to have any contact with the girl.
Life Way Christian School, a ministry of First Baptist Church Centerton, started in 2000. It has about 575 students enrolled in preschool through grade 12.
NW News on 05/12/2016