By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

A 28-year-old Hays man has been arrested on suspicion of four sexual offense allegations authorities said occurred between 2010 and 2014.

According to court documents, Arthur L. Gonzales Jr. was arrested in August on one count of rape in which the victim was under the of age of 18, allegedly occurring mid-April. He posted a 50,000 bond and was released.

At Gonzales’ Oct. 7 preliminary hearing for that April charge, however, officers from the Hays Police Department arrested Gonzales for two more alleged rapes and one sexual battery charge involving three separate victims, occurring between April 2010 and June 2014. According to the criminal complaints, one of the rape accusations involved the use of physical force, while two involved a victim who was “unconscious or physically powerless.”

Regarding the latest rape charges, one of the victims was under the age of 18 at the time of the incident, the other victims were 20 and 21.

The two-count sexual battery charge, which involved a separate victim, alleged Gonzales “slapped (the victim) on the buttocks with an open hand” without consent. The second count alleges a non-consensual kiss.

Gonzales is currently held at the Ellis County jail in lieu of the total bonds of more than $1 million.

Ellis County Attorney Tom Dress said Gonzales’ first appearance on the latest charges will be scheduled when Gonzalez obtains a lawyer or one is provided for him.

Drees reminded all suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.