Arkansas man who allegedly sexually abused two sisters arrested after therapist contacts tip hotline, cops say

An Arkansas man is accused of sexually abusing two sisters while he was dating their grandmother, authorities said.

On March 20, Richard Peter Lepage of Pyatt was taken into custody on a warrant while he was at a fast food restaurant. He was booked into the Baxter County jail on two felony counts of sexual indecency with a child, and his bond was set at $10,000.

Baxter County authorities began investigating 67-year-old Lepage after they were notified of a call a therapist working at an in-patient mental health facility made to the Arkansas State Child Abuse Hotline, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by KTLO.

The affidavit states one of the two sisters, now a teenager, was a resident of the facility in Benton.

She and the other alleged victim told investigators in interviews that when they were between 6 and 10 and Lepage was their grandmother's boyfriend, he allegedly would sexually abuse them and touch himself, the affidavit states.

According to the document, one girl claimed she recalled once waking up with a naked Lepage on top of her.

Baxter County deputies interviewed Lepage last month about the accusations, and he allegedly denied he inappropriately touched either girl but said he touched himself, the affidavit states.

Deputies claimed in the affidavit Lepage apologized to the two girls’ grandmother and believed he had made amends for the alleged incidents.