Monday, YCSO detectives were notified by the parents of a teenage girl that a person known to them had sexually assaulted their daughter in a Prescott area home. Spokesman Dwight D’Evelyn says the victim explained that earlier this year 55-year old Richard Edwards, of Cottonwood, contacted her on Snapchat expressing sexual desire for her. D’Evelyn says Edwards then showed up unannounced at the victim’s front door. When she opened the door, he grabbed her and forced her into a bedroom, sexually assaulted her, and threatened to kill her if she talked. No other family was home at the time.D’Evelyn says over several weeks, Edwards was able to continue molesting the victim at other locations. He says though scared of Edwards proposed actions, the victim eventually told a trusted family member. Tuesday, Edwards was arrested on charges including Sexual Assault, Sexual Conduct with a Minor, Sexual Abuse, Lure Minor for Sexual Exploitation and Threatening.
