Missouri man accused of rape

BENTONVILLE — A Seligman, Mo., man pleaded not guilty Monday to raping a 75-year-old woman.

Brian Tyler Jordan, 41, is charged with rape, a Class Y felony punishable with a prison sentence ranging from 10 to 40 years or life imprisonment. He entered a not guilty plea during an arraignment before Circuit Judge David Clinger.

The woman reported an old neighbor, who she only knew as Brian, was visiting at her rural Garfield home, according to court documents. She said he raped her after she let him into her house on Feb. 27.

The woman was taken to an area hospital where a sample of her attacker’s DNA was retrieved and sent to the Arkansas Crime Laboratory.

The woman was able to identify Jordan through online photographs of registered sex offenders.

Jeremy Felton, an investigator with the Benton County Sheriff ’s Office, went to Missouri to interview Jordan. Jordan admitted to knowing the woman. He told Felton he was at his brother’s home in Pea Ridge when the woman was raped, according to the affidavit.

Jordan denied raping the woman, but provided a DNA sample.

Felton received a report in May from the Crime Lab that showed Jordan’s DNA was consistent with the DNA sample retrieved from the victim. That report led to Jordan’s arrest.