The sentencing date for a 42-year-old Marion County man found living in a cave with a juvenile female who had been reported as a runaway by her family is set for February 6, according to federal court records.
Isaac James Melder, who lists an address along Fort Creek Lane in Yellville, pled guilty to a federal charge of enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity in July.
He could be sentenced to life in prison and fined up to $250,000 and will be required to register as a sex offender.
STATE CHARGES
Because part of the incident involving Melder and the 14-year-old Mountain Home girl took place in Baxter County and part in Marion County, state charges have been filed against Melder in both. The federal plea agreement does not prevent the state from pursuing charges.
In Baxter County, Melder is charged with interfering with custody, sexual indecency with a child, kidnapping and Internet stalking. In Marion County, he faces four counts of sexual indecency with a child.
He has entered not guilty pleas to all his charges in both counties.
A jury trial is now set for January 8, 2024, in Baxter County and for January 16, 2024, in Marion County. Prosecutor David Ethredge said Wednesday new trial dates would be set in the state cases after Melder has been sentenced in federal court.
CAVE WELL STOCKED
Melder was booked into jail June 23 last year after he was found living in cave north of Summit in Marion County with the 14-year-old girl. The girl had been reported missing by her family May 12.
Investigators reported that Melder stocked the cave with food and other provisions to allow the couple to live there for an extended period.
Searchers from the Mountain Home Police Department, Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and a canine tracking team from the North Central Unit of the state prison system at Calico Rock, were looking in an area off State Highway 14 north of Summit in very rugged terrain when Melder and the teenage female were discovered.
Investigators said it was not the first time the girl had run away with the much older man. They were caught in January in Marion County only a few hours after she had been reported missing.
Mountain Home Police Department Criminal Investigator Lieutenant Mike Day told KTLO, Classic Hits and the Boot News immediately after Melder’s arrest that it appeared the two had been planning on running away together since they were initially caught.
EXTENSIVE SEARCH
Multiple agencies from a number of cities and counties were involved in the search that was conducted on the ground and in the air.
Canine tracking teams along with an airplane and helicopter as well as several drones were all part of the extensive search.
Investigators said Melder had dated the girl’s mother years ago and has known the daughter since 2013. Melder and the mother resumed seeing each other again but broke off the relationship.
Despite the end of the dating relationship, Melder was reported to have been allowed to visit the house.
Authorities say the fact that Melder had been around the teen for such a long time gave him ample opportunity to “groom” the girl.
MARION COUNTY CASE
Melder also faces charges in Marion County.
In May, according to the probable cause affidavit in that case, the female victim is reported to have admitted she had walked from her middle school in Mountain Home to a pre-arranged destination on College Street.
From there Melder and the teen went to the cave in Marion County where they lived for the next six weeks while a major effort was launched to find the girl who was then listed as a missing person.
She told investigators she loved Melder and that she had had sex with him on multiple occasions while they lived in the well-stocked cave.
Melder is being held in the Washington County jail in Fayetteville on a hold from the Federal Courts.
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