Sexual assaults alleged
Staff writer
A Newton man whose address is not disclosed in jail records was arrested Monday by Hillsboro police on an assortment of child sex charges.
Ernest L. Edens, 49, Newton, was arrested on suspicion of rape, two counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child younger than 14, and aggravated indecent solicitation of child younger than 14. He was being held in lieu of $250,000 bond and is scheduled for his first appearance in court this afternoon.
Charges were filed May 3.
According to the complaint issued in the case, the alleged rape occurred between Aug. 16 and Nov. 1, the first alleged aggravated indecent liberties incident happened between Oct. 14 and 21 and the second between Sept. 1 and Nov. 30, and the alleged aggravated indecent solicitation of child between Nov. 18 and 26.
Hillsboro Police Chief Jessey Hiebert said Edens was a family friend of the victim.
A warrant was issued for Edens after charges were filed. His probation officer from an earlier conviction in Harvey County found out about the warrant and had Edens arrested there on grounds of parole violation.
When Hillsboro police found out Edens was in Harvey County Jail, Assistant Police Chief Randy Brazil drove to Newton and arrested him without incident at the jail.
Edens was sent to prison March 27, 2007, for an aggravated burglary in Harvey County.