BENTONVILLE -- A Bella Vista man pleaded not guilty Monday to charges he sexually abused four children.
John Clifford Longnecker, 77, entered the plea during his arraignment before Benton County Circuit Judge Robin Green. Longnecker is charged with two counts of rape, a Class Y felony; two counts of second-degree sexual assault, a Class B felony; 20 counts of distributing, possession of viewing matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child, a Class C felony; and four counts of engaging children in sexually explicit conduct for use in visual or print medium, a Class B felony.
Classes of Felonies
Class Y
Punishable by 10 to 40 years or life in prison.
Class A
Punishable by six to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000.
Class B
Punishable by five to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000.
Class C
Punishable by three to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Laws.
Class DPunishable by up to six years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
The Public Defenders Office will represent Longnecker.
Stuart Cearley, chief deputy prosecutor, asked Green to increase Longnecker's bond to $250,000. Longnecker was being held on a $150,000 bond. Kevin Lammers, deputy public defender, objected to the increase. Green set Longnecker's bond at $200,000.
Longnecker was arrested July 22. He's accused of sexually abusing four girls over a period of several years, according to a probable cause affidavit.
The girls were interviewed at the Children's Advocacy Center of Benton County. The court document states the girls reported instances of being touched while either sitting on a couch in the man's home or on an orange bucket in the back yard. They used anatomically correct dolls to re-enact the actions, according to court document.
Longnecker and his wife befriended the girl's family, and Longnecker would have the children over to help him in the garden as well as to play games on his cellphone, according to the affidavit.
Longnecker told police his life was over and also told police of situations matching what the girls reported, according to the affidavit.
General News on 08/31/2016