Fort Smith, ARK– A 69-year-old man from Fort Smith has been arrested and charged with multiple counts of sexual assault involving a minor, according to an arrest warrant filed by the Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office.
William Osburn Jr. was taken into custody on December 17 and is currently being held in the Sebastian County Detention Center on a $50,000 bond. Authorities were alerted to the alleged abuse on December 10 after the victim, now an adolescent, confided in her mother about the incidents.
According to the arrest warrant, the victim told her mother that Osburn had sexually assaulted her on several occasions during her childhood, beginning when she was six years old. The abuse reportedly continued until she was nine or ten. Investigators say that Osburn would touch the victim inappropriately while they were both staying at the same residence.
The victim had confided in two friends at school, who later encouraged her to speak with her mother about the incidents. This led to the involvement of law enforcement and the subsequent investigation.
Authorities did not immediately release further details about the case, citing the ongoing investigation. Osburn is scheduled to appear in court on December 26.
Sexual assault cases, particularly those involving minors, are taken very seriously by law enforcement and prosecutors, and the legal proceedings will now determine the extent of the charges against Osburn.
If you or someone you know has experienced abuse, resources are available for support, including local law enforcement and advocacy organizations.