A Hot Springs man was sentenced to 25 years in prison Tuesday after pleading guilty in Garland County Circuit Court to rape and sexual indecency charges involving juvenile victims.
Laquaveon Germain Haywood, 20, who has remained in custody since his first arrest Sept. 27, 2017, pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and was sentenced to 25 years in prison on each count. He also pleaded guilty to two felony counts of sexual indecency with a child and was sentenced to six years on each count. All the terms will run concurrently.
One victim was 12 when she and Haywood, then 19, began having sex in the summer of 2017, authorities said. In an interview with a detective, Haywood admitted to having sex with the juvenile but denied knowing her age at the time.
The sexual indecency charges involved a 14-year-old girl Haywood had sex with multiple times between July and August 2017, authorities said.
An additional felony charge of failure to register as a sex offender and a misdemeanor count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor were withdrawn as part of the plea deal. A permanent court order barring Haywood from any future contact with either of the victims was also issued.
Deputy Prosecutor Kara Petro said Tuesday the plea deal was approved by the guardians of both victims to avoid either victim having to testify at trial.
NW News on 11/02/2018