Springdale man pleads not guilty to child sexual abuse

BENTON COUNTY, ARKANSAS, Ark. — Image Warning: This story contains details of alleged sexual violence against children. Read with caution.

A Springdale man has pleaded not guilty to charges of rape, sexual abuse and grooming of a child, court records show.

When he confessed on June 25, the court also issued a restraining order against 31-year-old Edim Munoz, prohibiting him from having contact with the child he accuses of sexual abuse or with other minors.

Munoz will next appear in court for a hearing on September 24. His jury trial is scheduled for November 19.

On May 9, the Springdale Police Department (SPD) received a 911 call reporting the sexual abuse of a child.

According to court documents, a person who lived in the same house as Munoz woke up that morning with a bad feeling and decided to check the security cameras installed throughout the house.

The woman reportedly noticed that the bathroom door was closed, although she could not see Munoz or any child on the cameras.

According to police, she stood up and tried to open the bathroom door, which was locked.

Shortly afterward, Munoz left the bathroom and the child, identified by police as the victim, was also in the bathroom. Munoz said he was only getting toilet paper, but the child reportedly said he had just been sexually abused by Munoz.

Police claim that after speaking with the child, investigators learned that Munoz had sexually abused and raped the child “multiple times.”

The same day the 911 call was received, Munoz was arrested by police at his workplace and taken to the Springdale Police Station for questioning.

During his stay, Munoz reportedly admitted to installing cameras throughout the house because he was afraid to be near the children.

According to police, Munoz admitted to raping the child seven times and spoke of five cases of sexual assault starting in January 2024.

The SPD had originally filed the following charges against Munoz: seven counts of rape, four counts of second-degree sexual assault and one count of sexual abuse of a child.

According to court records, Munoz now faces only three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of sexual abuse of a child.

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