By Doug Russell
A Krebs man accused of molesting a 12-year-old girl outside of a McAlester church remains jailed in lieu of $112,500 bond.
Matthew Glen Durant has been ordered held in lieu of $100,000 bond on his latest charges, as well as $12,500 in bond on applications to accelerate deferred judgments on two other cases.
Durant, 20, is charged with lewd molestation for the June 6 incident outside the First Baptist Church in McAlester. He is accused of trying to kiss the girl “in a lewd and lascivious manner” while at the same time rubbing his hands over her body.
In an amended information filed Thursday, Durant is also charged with four counts of second-degree rape for having intercourse with three 15-year-old girls.
The lewd molestation charge is punishable upon conviction by imprisonment for three to 20 years. Each second-degree rape charge is punishable by imprisonment for one to 15 years.
Police were initially notified of Durant’s alleged actions when someone witnessed the incident in the alley south of the church, according to Det. Capt. Shawn Smith. The person who called police and another individual confronted Durant before police arrived, Smith said, adding the detectives worked with an investigator for the Department of Human Services Child Welfare Department on the case.
As the investigation continued, the events that led to the second-degree rape charges came out, police said, adding that only the incident of alleged lewd molestation happened in McAlester. The rest happened in Krebs, police said.
Durant had entered a plea to two counts of second-degree burglary on March 14, for which judgment and sentencing were deferred for five years. On Sept. 1, judgment and sentencing for a domestic assault and battery charge were deferred for two years.
