Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – A Jonesboro man is being held on a $500,000 cash/surety bond after police said he raped his own children on multiple occasions.
According to a probable cause affidavit, on Oct. 20, Jonesboro police were made aware of a complaint about inappropriate contact between 35-year-old Lee Banis and his two children, submitted to the Arkansas Department of Children and Family Services
One of the children told police Banis had been sexually assaulting them for several years. The child said multiple times, when their mother was at work, Banis would rape them. The affidavit said this had occurred as recently as two months ago at their home.
Police said the other child told them that while living with their parents, Banis raped them twice.
In an interview with Banis’s wife, she explained that she reported an incident when Banis had inappropriate sexual contact with one of their children.
The affidavit said his wife told him she was not going to have sex with him, causing Banis to threaten to beat her. Out of fear, she complied, adding that she was not aware she could refuse due to being Banis’s wife.
Banis was arrested by Jonesboro police Oct. 21, according to the online jail roster.
The next day, he appeared before District Judge Tommy Fowler, who found probable cause to charge him with two counts of rape and one count of incest. In addition to the $500,000 bond, Fowler ordered Banis to have no contact with either of the victims and wear a GPS ankle monitor upon release.
Banis’ next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 25.
Editor’s Note: JRN has chosen not to publish certain details due to the graphic nature of the case.
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic/sexual violence, call 800-656-HOPE (4673) to reach the National Sexual Assault Hotline.
