A Manila man is facing charges in of rape, a class Y felony and sexual assault in the first degree, a class B felony after assaulting a 13-year-old female in Sharp County.
According to the affidavit for warrant of arrest for 23-year-old Austen Christopher Chance Wilkey the charges stem from an incident in July of 2021 when the victim was with family and friends at a popular outdoor recreational destination near Hardy.
Throughout the day, Wilkey had been showing off a pistol he had in his possession and playing with it.
Later in the day, the victim was in the passenger seat of a vehicle driven by Wilkey who was also accompanied by his younger brother.
Wilkey began touching the victim inappropriately and asking if she “wanted to do something”. The victim stated she did not and told Wilkey she was only 13 years old. She later told authorities she was aware of the pistol and feared if she did not comply, she might be in danger.
Shortly after, Wilkey pulled the vehicle to the side of the road and told the victim to exit the vehicle. He then led her into the woods and sexually assaulted her. When he was finished with assault, he proceeded to take the victim to a residence.
The victim did not immediately report the incident but disclosed the events which had taken place a to her sister and mother. After learning of the assault, the victim’s mother reported the assault to the Jonesboro Police Department as it was the closest police department at the time.
The report was then forwarded to the Cherokee Village Police Department and an investigation began.
A mutual friend of the victim and Wilkey inquired about the incident through text message to Wilkey who acknowledged he was involved In the rape but claimed he had been “high on Xanax and Valium” during the incident.
A search of the Crimes Against Children Division showed allegations had been made against Wilkey in the past, but Wilkey did not have a criminal history.
On Aug. 10, of 2022, a search warrant was authorized for seizure of Wilkey’s cell phone, and it was seized and searched the following day.
Based on the statement of the victim and the text messages found on Wilkey’s phone, he was arrested and charged.
Bond for Wilkey has been set at $75,000 cash only.
Lauren is a an award-winning journalist who decided after 10 years of newspaper experience to venture out. Hallmark Times was born.
