Arkansas man who sexually assaulted girl, 12, gets 8 years in prison

 Joshua Nehemiah Lawson
Joshua Nehemiah Lawson

An Arkansas man has been sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a girl.

Joshua Nehemiah Lawson, 22, of Rogers pleaded guilty Monday. He was arrested last year.

A student told a police resource officer Lawson was having sex with a 12-year-old girl, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Lawson admitted to detectives he had sex with the girl, the affidavit states. Lawson told police he knew she was 12 years old and they met at the library, according to court documents.

Benton County Circuit Judge Robin Green sentenced Lawson to eight years in prison. He also must abide by a suspended sentence agreement for 12 years after his release from prison.

Lawson will be required to register as a sex offender, and he must undergo sex offender treatment. He also must pay $2,195 in court costs.

Lawson also pleaded guilty to aggravated assault on a family or household member and was given a six-year suspended sentence. According to court documents, Lawson threatened a woman with a baseball bat.

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