Michael H. Holzman of Paris, Ark., was charged Friday in Sequoyah County District Court in Sallisaw with one count of second-degree rape and two felony counts of sodomy.
According to court records, Sequoyah County Sheriff's Deputy Cindy Smith received a report on June 29 from a now 15-year-old girl in reference to allegations of sexual assault.
The girl described to Smith several incidents of sexual contact, including intercourse and oral sex, with Holzman during March, April and May.
When the girl was asked if Holzman knew her age, the girl told Smith that she first told Holzman that she was 17, but about six to eight months ago, she told him the truth about her age.
On July 2 Smith spoke to Holzman, who told her that he had known the 15-year-old for about 15 months. He said that when they first met, the girl told him she was 17.
After about three months, Holzman told Smith that the girl told him her true age, which was 14. Afterward, Holzman told Smith that he did not speak to the girl for about a month. During that month, Holzman claimed that the girl called him several times and they then began seeing each other again.
Holzman allegedly admitted that there was sexual contact between the two of them, which he knew was a problem. But he claimed they had feelings for each other. He also indicated to Smith that the incidents were consensual, and he also told Smith that he bought the girl everything she ever asked.
