ON JULY 24, 2007, IT WAS REPORTED TO INVESTIGATOR DAVID PLATT OF THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION THAT A CHILD HAD BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED BY HER FORMER STEP-FATHER. DURING THE COURSE OF THE INVESTIGATION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT JEFFERY SCOTT HAYES OF WALNUT RIDGE, WAS THE SUSPECT IN THE CASE AND THAT THE CONDUCT HAD BEEN OCCURRING OVER A TWO (2) YEAR PERIOD FROM SEPTEMBER OF 2004 TO AUGUST OF 2006 WHILE THE FAMILY LIVED IN SWIFTON, ARKANSAS. DURING THE TIME THAT THE INCIDENTS WERE OCCURRING, THE CHILD'S AGE RANGED FROM EIGHT (8) TO TEN (10) YEARS OF AGE.
ON THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2008, MR. HAYES WAS ARRESTED BY INVESTIGATORS FROM THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION ON A WARRANT CHARGING HIM WITH FOUR (4) COUNTS OF RAPE. HE WAS THEN TRANSPORTED TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT DETENTION CENTER. ON FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 2008, HE APPEARED IN NEWPORT DISTRICT COURT ON THE CHARGES AND HIS BOND WAS SET AT $ 250,000.00 AND HE WAS ORDERED TO APPEAR IN JACKSON COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT.