BENTONVILLE -- A Bentonville man pleaded not guilty Monday to charges accusing him of raping a 3-year-old girl.
Tristan Nathaniel Tiarks, 33, is charged with rape, aggravated assault and domestic battering. He pleaded not guilty to the charges at his arraignment before Benton County Circuit Judge Robin Green.
Tiarks was arrested in January and is free on $500,000 bond.
A nurse at the Mercy Medical Hospital Emergency Center in Bella Vista reported to police the girl was brought there with injuries from a suspected sexual assault, according to a court affidavit.
The girl was later interviewed at the Children's Advocacy Center of Benton County where she said Tiarks had wrapped a green towel around her neck which made her not able to breathe, according to the affidavit.
The girl's medical examination revealed marks that indicated she had been strangled, the affidavit states. An examination also found evidence associated with sexual assault/abuse, according to the affidavit.
The girl's mother told police she had left her daughter with Tiarks for about 45 minutes while she went to the store, according to the affidavit.
A omnibus hearing is scheduled for April 22.
Tiarks was ordered not to have any contact with the girl or her family members.
He faces from 25 to 40 years in prison or life imprisonment if convicted of rape. He could be sentenced from three to 10 years in prison if convicted of the battering charge, while he faces up to six years in prison for the assault charge.
Tiarks is a licensed physical therapist and his license was suspended in January by the Arkansas Board of Physical Therapy.