From police reports and interviews
A long time local building contractor was arrested in Cherokee Village on Feb. 9. Police Chief Monte Lane said Charles “Charlie” Edward Slater, 45, of Cherokee Village was arrested regarding a Feb. 6 call to the department about an alleged sexual assault that occurred in the city.
After interviews were conducted with both the Cherokee Village Police Department investigator and the Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children Division, a warrant was issued and Slater was arrested at a job where he was performing construction work on Feb. 9. When Slater realized he was under arrest, he told police he wasn’t going to prison and had a 9 mm pistol in the front seat of his vehicle. He repeatedly asked officers if he could go to his truck to roll the windows up, lock his doors and put his notebook inside before being taken into custody. He was denied by police and was taken into custody.
Slater was transported to the Sharp County Detention Center. During the interview process by police prior to his arrest it was determined that Slater had threatened both suicide and running to avoid being arrested for his alleged crimes.
At the time of his arrest, he was cited with four counts of Rape, All Class Y Felonies, which carry a sentence of 40 years to life in the state penitentiary if convicted.
Slater had a bond hearing Feb. 12. District Judge Mark Johnson set Slater’s bond at $150,000 cash or professional on the four Y felonies.
It is unclear the variance in the bond amount set by Johnson over previous rape suspects like Terry “Woodstock” Long, whose bond was initially set at $1 million and later raised to $3 million on additional alleged rape offenses.
The following morning, Slater posted the required bond and was released from the Sharp County Detention Center. There was no notification given to the victim(s) by the victim advocate at the Third Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney’s office.
Slater is currently awaiting the formal filing of the charges by the Third Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney’s office.