A Fulton County, Ark., man has been charged with 14 felonies after an investigation into allegations that he sexually assaulted a minor, which also reportedly led to the discovery he had used a computer to solicit or attempt to "seduce, solicit, lure or entice" a child or someone he believed to be a child to engage in sexually explicit conduct.
Richard Holstine, 50, is held on a $200,000 bond and formally charged with one count of computer child pornography, 12 counts of fourth-degree sexual assault and one count of being a habitual offender, according to court records.
The habitual offender charge was filed because Holstine reportedly has between one and four prior felony convictions, according to court documents filed by Fulton County Prosecutor Dwayne Plumlee.
The sexual assault charges allege, as someone age 20 or older, he engaged in sexual intercourse or deviate sexual activity with someone who was less than 16 years of age and not his spouse.
Fulton County Chief Deputy William Fawcett stated Holstine was arrested March 26, and the investigation was initiated after a report was submitted to the Crimes Against Children Division (CACD) division of the Arkansas State Police.
CACD and Fulton County Sheriff's Department investigators discovered the alleged incidents that led to the charges happened the last few months of 2023, Fawcett noted.
Court records show Holstine is to appear in court before 16th Circuit Court Judge Tim Weaver May 6 for arraignment; Holtsine is represented by attorney Matthew Gray Dellinger, Melbourne, Ark.
