Published: July 03, 2009 10:22 am      

McAlester man faces child sex abuse charges

A man accused of committing child sexual abuse while on probation is set to be in Pittsburg County District Court on Wednesday.

Richard Lee Turpin, 43, of McAlester, faces a district court arraignment, where a trial date is to be set for the charges which also include inducing a minor to engage in prostitution.

He also faces two counts of placing an obscene/threatening/hara-ssing phone call after two or more former felony convictions.

Turpin, who has at least four prior felony convictions according to court documents, was on probation at the time the offenses allegedly occurred in July 2008.

He is to be arraigned before Associate District Judge James Bland during the motion docket set to begin at 10 a.m. on Wednesday.

The charge of child sexual abuse accuses Turpin of performing a lewd or indecent act by watching a 16 year-old girl undress last July.

Turpin is accused ofinducing a minor to engage in prostitution charge by offering to pay the girl $200 to let him commit sexual acts on her.

He is also accused of making obscene comments to the girl during phone calls made on July 29 and July 30, 2008.

Turpin was arrested following an investigation by McAlester police which began after the girl called her grandmother.

He faces a maximum sentence of from 20 years to life in prison on the charges of child sexual abuse and inducing a minor to engage in prostitution.

He faces a maximum sentence of up to a year imprisonment, a $1,000 fine, or both, on the two charges of placing an obscene/threating harassing phone call.

Court documents show that Turpin’s previous felony convictions include:

• A 1996 Atoka County felony conviction for possession of a controlled dangerous substance. Turpin was sentenced to five years in prison, with the sentence suspended.

• A 2006 Pittsburg County conviction for possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine. Turpin was sentenced to 12 years in prison, with all but the first six years suspended.

• Another 2006 Pittsburg County conviction for possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine. Turpin was sentenced to 12 years, with all expect the first six years suspended.

• A 2006 Pittsburg County conviction of false declaration of ownership in pawn. Turpin was sentenced to six years in prison.