Bryant couple arrested for permitting child abuse

August 15, 2012

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A Bryant couple was arrested Thursday for permitting child abuse, authorities told The Saline Courier.
Brandon N. Sutton, 31, and Holly G. Sutton, 26, were released from the Saline County jail on Friday after posting a $10,000 signature bond. Both are expected to appear in Benton District Court on Sept. 11.
The victim's mother reportedly contacted the Saline County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday after the daughter said a 16-year-old boy sexually molested her multiple times.
"This reportedly occurred over a period of time of not less than a year," the sheriff's report said. The mother, according to the report, spoke to Brandon Sutton and it was revealed "that he already knew about the sexual abuse." The mother then called a Child Abuse Hotline and told sheriff detectives that she discovered that Brandon Sutton "knew about the sexual abuse since last September (2011)."
The report noted that the victim was taken to the Cooper Anthony Child Advocacy Center in Hot Springs and a forensic interview was conducted. The victim reported that the sexual abuse began when she was age 5 and that often she and the alleged abuser were not supervised by an adult. The victim also reported that the alleged abuser took pictures of her.
As of press time, the 16-year-old boy has not been arrested or charged.
The Saline Courier will continue to report this story as it develops.