BENTONVILLE -- A Centerton man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for raping a 9-year-old girl.
Ronnie Warran, 53, pleaded guilty Monday to rape, a Class Y felony. The plea was reached under an agreement between Warran's attorney and Benton County deputy prosecutor Carrie Dobbs.
Warran was arrested July 8.
Centerton police began to investigate after the girl said she was sexually abused by Warran. The girl was interviewed at the Children's Advocacy Center of Benton County, according to a probable-cause affidavit.
Warran initially denied sexually assaulting the girl, according to the affidavit. Warran later admitted to the abuse in a police interview, according to court documents.
Circuit Judge Robin Green accepted the plea agreement and Warran's guilty plea.
Warran was sentenced to 15 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction. He will be required to register as a sex offender after his release and must complete a sex offender treatment program.
Green ordered Warran not to have any contact with the girl or any unsupervised contact with other minors.
Warran received 209 days of jail credit for the time he spent in the Benton County jail awaiting trial. Warran must pay $1,670 in court costs.
Metro on 02/03/2016