Case Bound Over For Leasburg Man Charged With Sex Crimes

A Crawford County judge on May 9 ruled that a Leasburg man accused of multiple sex crimes with a juvenile victim’s case could be bound over to circuit court.

Nathaniel R. Gibson, 32, faces two counts of sodomdy or attempted sodomy with a victim under 14.

He also faces charges in Arkansas for two counts of rape and two counts of second-degree assault with that victim.

During a court appearance, Judge Patrick Horsefield ruled there was enough evidence to believe a felony has been committed.

Gibson’s case was bound over and he was scheduled to appear in court on Monday, May 13 before Judge Michael Randazzo.

A warrant was issued for Gibson’s arrest on Feb. 23 and he was booked into the Crawford County Jail on March 11.

Gibson was released from jail March 22 on a surety bond. 

Gibson is accused of sexually abusing the juvenile victim from June through August 2023. The victim is a sibling of Gibson’s wife. 

The probable cause statement alleges that he tried to force the victim to engage in a sexual act during one visit and forced the victim to engage during another visit.

The victim’s mother found text messages sent between the two, which were inappropriate. Gibson also requested photographs.

The Crawford County Sheriff’s Office began investigating and acquired a search warrant on Feb. 1. His cellular device was seized as evidence.

Nearly 19,000 text messages were allegedly exchanged between Gibson and the victim. 

Prosecutors in Boone County, Arkansas filed charges against Gibson on Feb. 2.