State Prisoner Accused of Raping 17 Year Old
By: Kyle Leyenberger
Updated: November 30, 2012
A state prisoner is in the Benton County Jail after prosecutors say he raped a 17-year-old while on furlough.
John Landingham was sentenced to 45 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections for badly beating his wife and threatening her with a butcher knife, according to Benton County Prosecutor Van Stone.
ADC spokesperson Shea Wilson says Landingham was serving his sentence in the Washington County Jail when he was granted a two day furlough for good behavior in June of 2011.
Stone objected to the furlough, and says the violent nature of Landingham's crime, and a previous criminal record should have disqualified him from any release.
The girl accused Landingham of raping her while he was free, and Stone says a warrant was issued for his arrest after authorities found a DNA match.
Landingham will appear in court on Monday for arraignment.
John Landingham was sentenced to 45 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections for badly beating his wife and threatening her with a butcher knife, according to Benton County Prosecutor Van Stone.
ADC spokesperson Shea Wilson says Landingham was serving his sentence in the Washington County Jail when he was granted a two day furlough for good behavior in June of 2011.
Stone objected to the furlough, and says the violent nature of Landingham's crime, and a previous criminal record should have disqualified him from any release.
The girl accused Landingham of raping her while he was free, and Stone says a warrant was issued for his arrest after authorities found a DNA match.
Landingham will appear in court on Monday for arraignment.
