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Mark Brown, 38
Following an alleged pattern of sexually abusing children in Groves, a 38-year-old man was indicted on one count of indecency with a child and three for continuous sex abuse of a child.
Saturday, Feb. 6, GPD officers responded to a disturbance in the 6900 block of Willow Street in Groves. The caller advised Mark Brown, 38, had sexually abused a minor. During the investigation, the minor made an outcry at the Garth House detailing the alleged sexual abuse that revealed at least three more victims.
An investigator reached out to those named as potential victims and three women alleged they were sexually assaulted by Brown when they were minors. Investigators were able to obtain three warrants for continuous sexual abuse of a child and one warrant for indecency with a child. Investigators believe there may be more victims and are asking anyone with information regarding these offenses to contact GPD.
According to a probable cause affidavit penned by Sgt. John Hudson, GPD officers responded to a call from a woman about her husband’s alleged abuse. One of the victims, who is now 18, told officers she was abused by Brown between the ages of seven and 11, when she would occasionally spend the night at his home. The victim detailed the abusive episode that occured while other children were asleep in the house. The child went late at night to retrieve headphones she left in the living room with Brown, who took the opportunity to grab and fondle her, the affidavit reads.
A second probable cause affidavit details the abuse another now 18-year-old woman faced at the hands of Brown. This victim was a neighbor of Brown’s when she was seven, or around 2009. The victim was watching a movie at the man’s home when Brown placed her in his lap, covered them in a blanket and began to rub underneath the child’s swimsuit bottom. The woman told detectives about another incident where Brown abused her as a child, this time in 2012.
A 14-year-old sister of one of the aforementioned victims also came forward and leveled allegations of abuse against Brown. This woman, who is also now 18, told officers she was touched inappropriately on numerous occasions, although she couldn’t remember how old she was when the abuse began. In the earliest incident she can recall, Brown tickled her with one hand, while rubbing between her legs with the other. Further abuse occurred once as she exited the bathroom. According to the affidavit, Brown threw the victim on a bed, pinned her down and used his hands to rub the child’s body under her clothes. She was unsure of just how many times this occurred, but believed the number to be around 15.
As of March 11, Brown was listed on the Jefferson County inmate roster with a bond totaling $1.2 million.