Man pleads in sex abuse case

A local man charged with molesting a five-year-old child in 2008 pleaded guilty to sexual abuse charges on Thursday, officials said.

Roger Alan Willis, 27, Summerfield Apartments, Russellville, pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree sexual abuse and was sentenced to a total of 15 years in prison split with three years to serve.

Willis, who has been in jail since he was first arrested in June of 2008, was originally charged with three counts of first-degree sodomy and one count of first-degree sexual abuse for molesting a five-year-old boy at the swimming pool at Regency Square Apartments in Russellville.

According to reports, Willis picked up the victim and the victim’s 9-year-old cousin on June 10, 2008 to take them swimming. A few days after the swimming trip, the victim told his mother that Willis had molested him after his cousin left the pool.

The victim’s mother made a report with the RPD and upon questioning, Willis admitted to the abuse.

“This was the oldest case on our docket and the reason this case has lasted so long is because there were questions about Mr. Willis’ mental state; he had three separate mental evaluations,” Franklin County District Attorney Joey Rushing said. “We finally got those issues resolved in time for him to accept this plea.”

Rushing said in addition to the 38 months Willis has already served and the three years he’s required to serve as part of the plea agreement, Willis will also be required to register as a sex offender.