Marion County sex offender arrested for rape of minor female, threatening victim and another with gun

A Marion County sex offender, arrested recently for threatening to blow his neighbor’s head off, has been arrested again for two incidents, one involving the rape of a minor female and then threatening the victim and an adult female with a shotgun. Being held in the Marion County Detention Center is 35-year-old Steven Michael Manson of Yellville.Marion County Sheriff Gregg Alexander says the rape occurred on or about Nov. 20. The victim was brought to the sheriff’s office Dec. 4 where she told investigators she was raped by Manson. She was then taken to Grandma’s House in Mountain Home, a child advocacy center, to be forensically interviewed.
The victim also said Manson had threatened her and an adult female with a shotgun during an argument on Dec. 3. The following day, a search warrant was executed at Manson’s residence and the firearm allegedly used in the crime was located and seized.

Manson is facing felony charges of rape, two counts each of kidnapping and terroristic threatening, second degree sexual assault and possession of firearms by certain persons. He also faces a penalty enhancement for being a habitual offender. Both rape and kidnapping are class Y felonies, the most serious crimes in Arkansas not punishable by the death penalty. Manson is being held in the Marion County Detention Center with bonds totaling $350,000.

LEVEL 2 SEX OFFENDER

Manson is a level 2 sex offender for an incident from 2010 in Illinois where he was charged with two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. The victim was 13 at the time.

Manson was sentenced to 20 years in prison as part of a plea deal after pleading guilty to charges of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, residential burglary and driving under the influence. He spent just over ten years in prison before being released in January of 2021.

PREVIOUS MARION COUNTY ARRESTS

Manson has two previous arrests in Marion County.

Manson was arrested in October for failing to comply with sex offender registration requirements.

During a home visit by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Manson had three vehicles at his residence which were not registered with the sheriff’s office as required.

He was charged with the felony and released on bond.

He was also arrested in Nov. 25 after a neighbor told investigators Manson said he would “blow her head off” and kill her dogs if they came onto his property again. Another neighbor told investigators he heard the threat that was made to the victim.

In that case, Manson is facing a felony charge of terroristic threatening. He was free on bond when his latest crimes occurred.

MISSOURI ARREST

Manson was arrested in Springfield May 31 after police found him in possession of approximately 130 animals in deplorable conditions in his truck. Manson had driven from Yellville to Springfield to sell the animals at swap meets.

According to court records, Manson had chickens, pigs, goats, rabbits, turkeys, pigs and ducks in cages both in the truck bed and inside of his truck. The truck was parked in a motel parking lot with all but one of the windows rolled up and the one window was only cracked about one inch according to police on a 78 degree day.

The police affidavit noted there were dead animals mixed in with live animals; the cages were stacked on top of each other where the animals on top defecated on the animals below; there was no water for the animals; there was small bits of what appeared to be food, but it was mixed in with feces; and there were no bags of food found in the truck.

Manson was charged with two counts of animal abuse and three counts of animal neglect, all misdemeanors. He posted $10,000 bond in that case.

His court date is set for Dec. 18, but that will likely be moved since he is being held in the Marion County Detention Center.

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