Gainesville man charged with sexual abuse, child molestation for acts during Hootin an Hollarin

Kenny W. Maynard, 59, of Gainesville, was scheduled to be in court before Associate Judge Raymond Gross Tuesday for a bond hearing in a case in which he’s charged with sexual abuse and child molestation of a person younger than 17 when he is at least four years older. 

Maynard was arrested in the case Sept. 20 and had been held without bond since that time.

According to the probable cause statement prepared by Ozark County Deputy Matt Rhoades, the officer was patrolling the Gainesville square on Saturday, Sept. 17 during the Hootin an Hollarin festival. 

While he was there, he was contacted by the parents of a juvenile who reported that she was groped by Maynard, whom the parents said was an old family friend. 

Rhoades made contact with the victim, who identified Maynard as the suspect.

“She stated he approached her, grabbed her by the arm in front of witnesses and asked her if she had social media accounts. She told him no and walked away quickly,” the report says. “A short time later, she was standing in a dimly lit area, listening to the live music, when Kenny walked up to her, grabbed her by both arms and pulled her into a dark spot between vendor tents. He asked her several times if she had social media as he held her arms and he began groping her breasts. She was able to push away from him and run to family members at the festival. I contacted the witnesses of the first incident, they confirmed the account.”

Rhoades located Maynard at his residence, and he told the officer that he had seen the victim earlier in the night two times and asked her if she had Snap Chat. He said that he did tell the girl that he wanted to send her a message on the app. 

Maynard told the officer that he had a witness with him when he talked to the girl. The witness later told the officer that he was not with Maynard when he was with the girl. 

The victim desired prosecution, the statement says.