VAN BUREN -- A Mulberry man pleaded innocent in Crawford County Circuit Court on Wednesday to five counts of rape of a minor and the attempted rape of another.
The public defender's office entered the plea and waived arraignment for Damien Dean Kennedy, 21, who was arrested last week after the Van Buren police received a report that Kennedy had abused a 3-year-old girl.
The rapes, which the prosecutor said had occurred since Jan. 1, involve a 9-year-old girl, according to Van Buren police reports.
He was being held in the Crawford County jail Wednesday in lieu of $75,000 bond.
Investigators received reports last week that Kennedy, who police said is mentally challenged, had had sexual contact with the 9-year-old and the 3-year-old girl.
Kennedy was interviewed by police and admitted raping the 9-year-old girl, according to reports.
Metro on 07/02/2015