Detectives with the Benton Police Department were notified early Thursday, Aug. 18 of a suspected child abuse case. The detectives are working jointly with the Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children Division on the on-going investigation.
Benton school officials notified Benton Police Department School Resource officers, and the Arkansas State Police through the state child abuse hotline of the suspected child abuse of a 9-year-old boy. After being notified by the ASP, Criminal Investigation Division detectives at the Benton Police Department interviewed 49-year-old John Richard Huthmaker and his wife 37-year-old Colleen Huthmaker.
The alleged incident reportedly took place about 7 a.m. Thursday inside the Huthmaker’s home in Benton. After the interviews with detectives, John Richard Huthmaker was taken into custody and transported to the Saline County Detention Center. He faces a charge of 2nd degree Battery, class C felony.
Colleen Huthmaker was also transported to the Saline County Detention Center and faces a charge of Permitting Child Abuse, a class D felony.
Anyone with information about this crime is encouraged to contact the Benton Police Department at 501-778-1171 or 501-315-TIPS. Individuals also may send us an anonymous crime tip about this incident to CRIMES (274637) with the keyword BNPD in the body of the text or go to www.crimereports.com to leave a tip. A crime tip can also be submitted via the official Benton Police Department app found on ITunes and Google Play.
Any suspects listed are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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