Wood County Man Indicted in Sexual Abuse Cases

WOOD COUNTY � A Yantis man was indicted recently for the alleged sexual abuse of two girls, ages 14 and 12. KETK reports the incidents happened about a month apart. On April 3, a Wood County deputy responded to a report of a sexual assault at the Yantis school, according to an Wood County arrest affidavit. Friends of the 12-year-old assaulted told police the victim said Joshua Michael Tutor, 20, had sexual relations with her on the playground. The mother also showed a string of text messages between her and the suspect. In the texts, the suspect admits to sexual activity, according to officials.

On April 4, the mother reported to authorities her daughter stated the two had sex at a nearby playground and she had been pressured into the act. On the same day, Tutor appeared at the Wood County Sheriff’s Office and admitted to having sex with the child at the Yantis school playground, according to authorities. He also recognized the teen was underage and knew it was wrong, according to the affidavit.

In a separate incident on May 12 at around 1:30 a.m., the Alba Police Department pulled over a vehicle driven by Tutor. A 14-year-old was also in the vehicle with him. The girl reportedly stated she sneaked out of her home and was picked up by the suspect. The teen also reportedly told the officer the two of them had hung out at Lake Fork. The following day, detectives interviewed the teen about the prior night’s events. The girl told investigators she was inappropriately touched and thought Tutor was trying to have sex with her, according to officials. He also had tried to kiss her, the victim reportedly stated. Officials say after she denied Tutor, they left to take the teen home. Tutor was charged with one count of aggravated sexual assault of a child and solicitation to commit sexual assault of a child. His bail totals $125,000.