Baby sitter, 19, indicted on two counts of sodomy

RUSSELLVILLE - A 19-year-old baby sitter has been indicted on charges that he sodomized the girl he was attending. Jeffery Wade Lovelady, of Ridgecrest Apartments, Russellville, faces two counts of first-degree sodomy. The indictments were issued during the Jan. 5 Franklin County grand jury.

First-degree sodomy is a Class A felony, which carries a punishment of 10 years to life in prison if convicted.

"This allegedly happened when (Lovelady) was 16, but because of the severity of the case and the fact that the charge is a Class A felony, he was automatically charged as an adult," said Franklin County District Attorney Joey Rushing. Investigators said Lovelady is accused of forcing the child into a sexual encounter while at a Russellville residence Feb 1, 2005. The child was under the age of 10.

"It's really a sad situation," he said. "(He) was older, someone the child knew, looked up to and trusted to take care of her."

Hargett said his department was notified of the allegations in June 2008. Authorities said the child told her parents, who contacted police. Hargett said the Franklin County Department of Human Resources also was involved in the investigation.

He said it's not usual for a young child not to immediately come forward.

"Again, that goes back to the trust factor that a young victim often times has with their abuser," Hargett said.

Rushing said the case has not been set for trial, but it will be on the next arraignment docket in February. He said the case could be placed on the April trial docket. Lovelady remains out of jail on bail totaling $10,000.

Tom Smith can be reached at 740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.