Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio says his sex crimes detectives have arrested a 20-year-old Peoria man on five counts of Child Molestation, two counts of Sexual Conduct with a minor under 15, and one count of Sexual Abuse, the victim being a 10-year-old family member.
Anthony L. Auston was taken into custody by Sheriff’s detectives and booked into the 4th Avenue Jail late yesterday, January 27, 2014.
According to statements made by both suspect and victim, the victim’s uncle began repeatedly molesting the young girl, while living in the same residence.
According to the suspect’s interview, the molestation began over five months; several encounters occurred while the girl was asleep, and the last encounter occurred two weeks ago.
The young girl told her grandmother about the uncle’s behavior, and grandmother then called the Sheriff’s Office.
According to the suspect’s account, he never threatened the young girl but did encourage her to keep quiet about the encounters. Auston told detectives he loved the victim in a way that was “somewhere in between a niece and a girlfriend, depending on the day.”