A man charged with sex crimes was set to appear in Baxter County Circuit Court last Monday but couldn’t make it because he was locked up on similar charges in Washington County. Twenty-nine-year-old Michael Anthony Smith is charged with rape and false imprisonment in Baxter County and with second degree sexual assault and failure to appear in Washington County.
His appearance date in Baxter County was continued until late June.
Smith has listed many addresses in court documents, including “the streets of Columbia, Missouri.”
When he became aware of the allegations being made against him in Baxter County, Smith is reported to have fled.
He was eventually arrested in Missouri on Washington County warrants.
He is reported to have moved to Mountain Home with his girlfriend and a child at some point and found employment at a local business.
When he moved to this area, he was already a fugitive from Washington County where he had been accused of having sexual relations with an 18-year-old female in late October 2021
On August 14, Smith did make one appearance in Baxter County Circuit Court after being arrested on the failure to appear warrant. He pled not guilty to the charges against him.
The next day, he was transferred to the Washington County jail.
Records indicate Smith has led a nomadic life. He has reported addresses in Mountain Home, Fayetteville and in Missouri. On the Washington County jail log, he once listed Bearden as his place of residence.
BAXTER COUNTY CASE
Smiths charge in Baxter County stemmed from a report made by an adult female in mid-August last year. She reported to sheriff’s investigators that Smith had called and asked to come to her residence. The woman said she had met Smith when they both worked for the same business In Mountain Home.
The woman said Smith arrived with a male companion. The man has since been identified as a long-time friend of Smith’s.
The woman told investigators she had gone into the master bedroom to check on her small child who was sleeping in the room.
When the victim turned around, she saw Smith blocking the bedroom door. He was alleged to have refused to let the victim exit the room. He is reported to have grabbed the victim by the throat and pushed her onto the bed.
Smith is accused of having forced three sex acts on the woman.
Once the assaults were completed, Smith and his friend left the residence. The victim said Smith’s friend remained in the living room and did not participate in the assault.
The victim was initially hesitant to report the rape saying she feared retaliation from Smith. Once she had made the report, the victim worked with investigators but remained fearful that Smith would return.
WASHINGTON COUNTY CHARGES
Smith is charged with second degree sexual assault and failure to appear in Washington County.
The sexual assault in that county is alleged to have occurred in late October 2021.
According to electronic court records, the same man who was reported to have been present at the rape in Baxter County was also with Smith when the incident in Washington County took place.
Smith was due to make a court appearance on the Washington County sexual assault charge in mid-April last year but was a no show and a failure-to-appear warrant was issued. He was taken into custody in Columbia, Missouri on the Washington County warrants and brought back to Arkansas.
His next appearance in Washington County is now set for June 4.
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