5 months ago
ShareA 51-year-old Carlisle man is behind bars, suspected of raping a 6-year-old girl and her 5-year-old brother.
The Lonoke County Sheriff's Office and family members confirm that the alleged victims did stay with the suspect Harold Reynolds at one time. They both also say he has been a trusted family friend for years.
Reynolds was in court Friday morning. A court date has been set for Oct. 30 and bond was set at $50,000.
Meanwhile, in a small community of just over 2,000 people where everybody knows your name, parents say they're watching their kids a bit closer.
Jennifer Mackey says, "My kids like riding their bicycles down the street to their friends house and stuff like that and just don't know about it anymore."
Tuesday, Lonoke County Sheriff's Deputies arrested 51-year-old Harold Lee Reynolds was after an on going rape investigation.
Lt. Jim Kulesa explains, "The sheriff's office received a report of a possible sexual abuse concerning two children, a 6-year-old female and a 5-year-old male brother and sister."
Kulesa says the victims and suspect have been interviewed and the alleged incident happened at Reynolds home in Carlisle.
(Today's THV is not releasing the connection between Reynolds and the kids family at this time in order to protect their identities.)
Reynolds sister Linda Tallman called Today's THV and commented by phone. She says, "I do not believe he is guilty, I know in my own heart he's not and they called him Papaw. They have called him Papaw ever since they started talking. Harold is a very good person, he works constantly, and he works 14-15 hours a day on a farm. They're trying to say this incident happened last year when the children were in Harold's home."
Reynolds is being held at the Lonoke County Detention Center without bond until his court date for allegedly raping two minors.
Kulesa adds, "Rape is a Class Y Felony, which is one of the highest felonies you can be charged with. It's the same felony level as murder."
Like Tallman, Kulesa says Reynolds is innocent until proven guilty.
He continues, "These are the hardest investigations you can do; however, you have to be very thorough in what you do. You can't jump to conclusions you have to take into consideration the victims and suspect."
There are no charges against the mother of the children, Kulesa says DHS is involved and the children are receiving counseling.
