Texarkana man accused of raping child

EL DORADO — A Texarkana man arrested in connection with a rape charge in Union County is being held on a $500,000 bond after his first appearance in district court on Wednesday.

Steven V. Sellers, 50, of Texarkana, Ark., was arrested and charged with sexually touching an 11-year-old in the back of his car around Huttig. He is potentially facing more charges, according to the Union County Sheriff’s Office.

On March 7, the victim’s mother contacted the sheriff’s office and told Lieutenant Darryl Easter that Sellers touched her child inappropriately.

According to the report, the child was watching a movie in the back of his vehicle and soon fell asleep; When she awoke, Sellers was lying beside her with his hand inside her pants and her shirt pulled up.

When the mother confronted Sellers about the incident, he denied it and kept asking what the child told her. She threatened to grab her gun if he didn’t leave. He promptly drove away, according to the report.

Easter contacted the Crime Investigation Department and the child abuse hotline about the incident.

Ouachita County deputies arrested Sellers with a warrant from the Union County Sheriff’s Office around 7:30 p.m. Monday.

Sellers was assigned a $250,000 bond, but his bond was doubled to $500,000 after Prosecutor Greg Thomas told the court that officials found Sellers in Miller County hiding in a storm shelter and that Sellers had plans to flee to the state of Oregon.

Easter approached the front of the court and whispered into Barker’s ear.

Looking at Sellers, 35th District Court Judge Jack Barker Barker said “the feds may take him.”

If released, Sellers is restricted from leaving the state of Arkansas.

Nathan Owens can be reached by phone or email: [email protected]. For news updates follow him on Facebook or Twitter: nowensednt.

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