A Saline County teenager tells police her mother's boyfriend has sexually assaulted her for the past 9 years. The girl says-- in return, her mother would receive money, cars, and drugs. Friday, sheriff's deputies confirmed the arrest of 56 year old Stephen Bradford and his girlfriend.
"I don't like the idea that it's happening in this area," said Roger Johnson of Saline County.
It’s not the news people expected to hear in their own back yard.
"I just don't agree with that,” he said.
He’s shocked to hear authorities are investigating the 56 year old on charges he sexually assaulted his girlfriend's daughter.
"He wore a ball cap often,” says Warren Osborne who recalls seeing Bradford around town.
“I saw him at the laundromat a couple of times. Anything seem out of the ordinary? No,” he said.
It all started on Highway 167 near East End Tuesday. Police say they pulled over the teenage girl because they thought she was drinking. While taking her into custody, she opened up about everything. She told officers Bradford bought her mom a new pickup truck and gave her $20,000 as down payment on a new house, all in exchange for sleeping with the young girl.
The victim says her mom threatened to tell police Bradford raped her daughter if he didn't pay up.
"Doesn’t sound like that mother thought much about her daughter…there's other ways to make money….Go out and work. Get a job. Don't sell your daughter huh? No. Above all things don't sell your children,” Osborne said.
No one answered the door at Bradford's North Springlake road home Friday.
"A person who would hurt a child like that should be prosecuted. In my opinion, the law ought to be the same as murder,” Johnson said.
Investigators say this case is far from over.
Friday, a friend of Bradford stopped by his home while we were there. She told us she's known him for years and always known him to be "really nice and polite".
Bradford was arrested on rape charges and endangering the welfare of a minor. The victim's mother was arrested for permitting abuse of a minor. Both have bonded out of jail.
Fox 16 is withholding the mother’s name to protect the teen’s identity.
