Roger Lynn Hicks

     A Cotter man already incarcerated in the Detention Center since Wednesday afternoon on a misdemeanor child endangerment charge and non-payment of child support has now been charged additionally with rape.

     ROGER LYNN HICKS, 34 years old, was charged today with one count of Rape, which is a Class Y Felony, following an investigation into the alleged rape of an 11 year old female on January 18th in Midway, Arkansas that was reported to law enforcement on January 23rd.  As part of the investigation, the victim’s clothing she was wearing on the night of the alleged rape was collected, packaged, and taken into evidence.  Those items were then sent to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory in Little Rock for forensic evaluation.  DNA samples from sperm cells were found on one or more of the submitted articles.

     On May 2, 2019 the Sheriff’s Office was notified that the DNA samples collected from the victim’s clothing matched a known DNA sample on file from ROGER LYNN HICKS.  A subsequent DNA sample was sought from HICKS for confirmation purposes.  A Baxter County Circuit Judge issued an order for a DNA sample to be obtained from ROGER LYNN HICKS, which was taken from him on May 9th. 

     During an interview with Sheriff’s Investigators, HICKS invoked his rights and refused to answer any questions.  A Circuit Judge today approved a probable cause affidavit for the issuance of an arrest warrant charging ROGER LYNN HICKS with Rape.  He will have a bond of $100,000 on that charge and will appear in the Circuit Court to answer on or before June 20th. 

/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff