Cottonwood man arrested, accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl

YAVAPAI COUNTY, Ariz. (KSAZ) - Officials with the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office announced Wednesday the arrest of man accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl.

According to the statement, 55-year-old Richard Edwards was arrested on Tuesday at his home in Cottonwood. He is facing multiple charges, including sexual assault, sexual conduct with a minor, sexual abuse, luring of a minor for sexual exploitation, and threatening.

Officials say they were notified by the parents of a teenage daughter on July 23 that a person known to them had sexually assaulted their daughter at a Prescott area home. After an extensive interview with the girl, investigators allege that Edwards made contact with the girl on Snapchat, expressing sexual desires for her. Eventually, Edwards showed up, unannounced, at the girl's front door, and when the girl opened the door, Edwards grabbed her, forced her into a bedroom, and sexually assaulted the girl. Besides the girl, no other family was home at the time.

Edwards, according to officials, threatened to kill the girl if she talked. In the weeks that followed, Edwards was able to present in situations that allowed him to continue molesting the girl at other locations, and the girl eventually told a trusted family member.

Edwards is reportedly in custody on a $500,000 cash bond.