Authorities say a Batesville man has been charged in Independence County Circuit Court with two counts of second-degree sexual assault in a case involving children under the age of 14.
Court documents stated the Independence County Sheriff’s Department received a report from the mother of two children of alleged child sexual abuse on June 2, 2022.
The mother told investigators a friend of her husband had been staying in their home, and during this time, she alleges the friend sexually abused the two minors.
The suspect was identified as Stephen Thomaspeter Ledlow age 30.
Both minors were interviewed regarding the instances of abuse, and both of their accounts were deemed consistent by investigators according to the arrest affidavit.
Ledlow has been arrested and is currently in the Independence County Jail, bond was set at $30,000.