A Sherwood man who works at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock was arrested Thursday after he was accused of sexually assaulting a minor.
Paul Perkins, 37, was taken into custody at the hospital and charged with one count of rape and one count of second-degree sexual assault, both felonies, according to a report from the Pulaski County sheriff’s office.
UAMS spokesman Leslie Taylor said Perkins is a graduate student in the university's biochemistry department and seeking his PhD at the hospital. He currently holds a medical degree from UAMS, according to Pulaski County sheriff's office spokesman Lt. Carl Minden.
The sheriff's office report lists the victim as a 16-year-old girl.
According to the report, Perkins' purported sexual abuse with the juvenile victim purportedly began when she was 8 years old. Perkins had been recently “going above and beyond” to accommodate the victim, the report states, “giving her money, paying for her to go places and do things and providing her rides to various places.”
When confronted by her mother, the victim first denied any involvement with Perkins. However, the report states, she confessed that she would “perform sexual acts with Paul in exchange for money and other favors” and that the relationship had been going on for several years.
Perkins is currently being held at the Pulaski County jail in lieu of $100,000 bond. He is scheduled to make his initial appearance in court on March 4 at 9 a.m.