Boone County Man Facing Charges Against Newton County Teen

A man is facing charges after to admitting to having sex with a 12-year-old female.

According to the probable cause affidavit filed by the Newton County's Sheriff's Office, 25-year-old Cordell Martin of Everton admitted to two sexual encounters with the girl in Western Grove in 2021. The victim, now 16-years-old, was interviewed in July by  Grandma’s House Child Advocacy Center in Mountain Home and detailed the encounters that Martin confirmed in a subsequent interview. Martin said that the two continued communicating for a couple of months after which he cut off communications knowing she was a minor.

Martin is currently being held in the Newton County Jail on $100,000 Bond.