Man accused of sexually assaulting children for six years

     Groves Police with assistance from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office have arrested a man accused of sexually assaulting three children, ages 4,8 and 14, for six years, according to information KFDM News has received from Groves City Marshal Jeff Wilmore.

     "We just want to make sure we inform the public. We hope we don't find any other victims. We want to prevent future victims," said Wilmore.

     Wilmore says Friday Groves Police and the Sheriff's Office Forensic Unit completed a two month investigation into a child pornography case which resulted in the arrest of James Rustin Stewart, 21, of Groves. Wilmore says the investigation revealed the 4, 8 and 14 year old had been sexually assaulted for six years.

     According to Wilmore, a search warrant was executed at a residence in Groves on July 13, 2009, in which police confiscated two laptop computers and a flash drive which revealed evidence that Stewart had manufactured and possessed child pornography.  Wilmore says a forensic examination performed on the computers and flash drive yielded hundreds of images of the victims engaged in sexual acts or sexually explicit poses.

     Groves Police say the suspect has been cooperative and voluntarily provided detectives w ith a confession and details of the case.  Wilmore says Stewart confessed to the sexual assaults and identified the three victims in the photographs.  All of the victims were friends of the family.

     Stewart was arrested on the first count of Aggravated Sexual Assault on July 28, 2009 and posted a $25,000 bond.  He was arrested on September 25, 2009 on one count of Indecency with a Child by sexual contact and posted a $50,000 bond.  Friday, September 25 at 1 p.m. he was arrested on the second count of Aggravated Sexual Assault and his bond was set at $200,000.

     "Our concern is to keep this person off the streets and away from children," said Wilmore in a news release.  "The main goal is to make sure that he does not take the innocence away from another child."

     Aggravated Sexual Assault is a 1st degree felony, punishable by 5-99 years or life in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

     Indecency With a Child by Sexual Contact is a 2nd degree felony, punishable by 2-20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.