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Arthur Wayne Barker | Fremont County Jail
ST. ANTHONY – A Fremont County man faces allegations of child sexual abuse.
Arthur Wayne Barker, 61, is charged with obscene conduct with a child under 16. According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by EastIdahoNews.com, law enforcement investigated several allegations of child sexual abuse he knew.
The Department of Health and Welfare first contacted Fremont County MPs in March after reports of alleged sexual abuse surfaced.
A victim told authorities that the abuse took place between 2002 and 2006, but was never reported because “(relatives) would persuade the victims that it never happened and that Arthur was a good man who would never do that, ”indicates probable cause.
Investigators spoke with at least five potential victims, according to a court document. Three of the people investigators spoke to revealed allegations of inappropriate behavior on Barker’s part. One woman recalled Barker sexually assaulting them in the 1980s, court documents show.
The victim who brought the allegations to light described the incidents of sexual assault and abuse by Barker in graphic detail. Court files also detail allegations of abuse with a victim who has since died.
Based on the interviews, MPs called on Fremont County prosecutors to accuse Barker of obscene conduct. Barker faces the single count for the victim that brought the allegations to light.
Barker was arrested on June 3, according to court records. He then posted a bond of $ 25,000. While on bail, Barker is not allowed to have any contact with women under the age of 16. He appeared in court for his preliminary hearing on Wednesday.
Although Barker is charged with a crime, that doesn’t necessarily mean he committed it. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
If convicted of an obscene crime, a judge could order Barker to face life in prison. However, such long sentences are rarely handed down.
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