Local man arrested for sexual abuse

By Staff
Jason Houston FCT Managing Editor
A Franklin County man was arrested Tuesday and charged with sodomy and sexual abuse of a young girl.
Sheriff's Department investigators said Murl Junior Bryant, 44, of 100 Suggs Mountain Road in Russellville, was arrested and charged with second-degree sodomy and two counts of second-degree sexual abuse.
The sodomy charge is a Class B felony, which is punishable by 2-20 years in prison upon conviction.
The charges were based on the age of the victim. She was 12 when the alleged abuse took place. She is now 13.
Investigators said the charges resulted from the fact the victim was between 12 and 16 and the suspect was at least two years older.
The alleged incidents took place sometime around September or October 2004.
The victim recently reported the incidents and the Franklin County Department of Human Resources was contacted, who turned the case over to the sheriff's department, investigators said.
Bryant was released from the Franklin County Jail on $20,000 bond.
In an unrelated case, investigators said Crispin Matteo, 52, of 100 Ponderosa Trailer Park Lot 1 in Russellville, was arrested this week and charged with two counts of second-degree possession of a forged instrument and second-degree identity theft.
Matteo, who was employed at Gold Kist, is accused of using a false Social Security number to obtain employment. The number Matteo claimed was his actually belongs to a resident of Wilmar, Minn. The case was reported to the sheriff's department by Wilmar police.
Matteo remained in jail at press time pending a bond hearing.