Berryville man charged with sexually assaulting 12yo girl

Joseph Matthew Neagle, 32, of Berryville was arrested in connection with the second-degree sexual assault of a minor child, police reports show.

According to an Affidavit of Warrant issued by the Carroll County Circuit Court, Neagle was a acquaintance of the family before the alleged sexual assaults occurred.

On June 19, the Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children Division received a hotline tip reporting that a child had been sexually assaulted by Neagle while on a camping trip.

A warrant was issued for Neagle after the allegations were made, but he was not picked up on charges until Sept. 25 because he fled to Texas, police said.

Carroll County authorities worked with Corpus Christi (Texas)police to track, arrest and return Neagle to Arkansas where he could be charged, police told Carroll County News.

"We worked with Corpus Christi authorities to get Neagle extradited back to Carroll County," Berryville Detective Robert Bartos explained. "He is now in custody at the Carroll County Detention Center."

During an interview with an investigator, the victim told authorities that Neagle had assaulted her three times.

Once, he picked up the child in Texas from her father and brought her to Arkansas, and during that trip the victim and Neagle stayed overnight in a hotel -- the incidence of the first alleged sexual assault, police reports show.

Another time the victim was assaulted at a home where her family was sleeping, the affidavit said.

Neagle was reportedly intoxicated during every instance of sexual assault, police said.

He remained in custody at the Carroll County Detention Center late Monday and could face up to 15 years if convicted.