TEXARKANA, Ark. -Miller County prosecutors have charged a Texarkana man accused of sexual assault and terroristic threatening involving an adult female relative.
Benjamin McKinney Jr., 49, was arrested in the early hours of Jan. 11 after family members called police. Texarkana, Ark., officers responded at approximately 4:30 a.m. to the home of one of McKinney's relatives, according to a police report.
An adult relative of McKinney's allegedly reported that she was sleeping on the living room sofa when she was awakened by McKinney sticking his hands in her pants. The woman told officers McKinney was "in the back sharpening knives" and had threatened to kill her if she told anyone what he had done.
McKinney allegedly claimed he'd been sleeping when police arrived and denied any misconduct. A second female relative allegedly told officers that McKinney frequently makes "perverse statements" in front of them and touches himself in front of them.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Connie Mitchell signed off Wednesday on charges of second-degree sexual assault and terroristic threatening. The sexual assault charge is punishable by five to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $15,000. Terroristic threatening is punishable by up to six years in prison and a fine up to
$10,000.
McKinney is currently being held in the Miller County jail with bail set at $100,000. At his initial court appearance in January, McKinney was ordered to have no contact with either of the women interviewed by police at the time of his
arrest.
The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Kirk Johnson.