An Arkansas man was sentenced to six years in prison Monday after pleading guilty to sexually a 14-year-old girl in 2016.
Justin Michael Crue, 32, who lists a Malvern address, was set to stand trial on the charges Jan. 31, 2019, but opted to plead guilty to two felony counts of fourth-degree sexual assault and one count of failure to appear and was sentenced to the maximum of six years on each count, to run concurrently.
Two additional counts of failure to appear were withdrawn, and court costs were expunged for time served since his last arrest July 20. A permanent order barring him from contact with the victim remains in place.
According to a probable cause affidavit, on Oct. 6, 2016, Garland County sheriff's investigators received a report of a 14-year-old female having sexual contact with a 29-year-old man with the last encounter occurring at a residence on Crystal Hill Road.
The next day, the victim was interviewed at the Cooper-Anthony Mercy Child Advocacy Center.
During the interview, the victim said she had consensual sex twice with Crue in September while at a friend's house on Crystal Hill.
Authorities said she stated she had met Crue three or four years earlier and had previously baby-sat for his children. She noted Crue was aware of her age at the time of the sexual encounters.
The affidavit noted sheriff's investigators were not able to make contact with Crue about the allegations. A warrant was later issued for his arrest.