Bywater indicted on 11 sex felony charges

Andrew Patrick Bywater, 55, was first arrested in November 2014 for multiple felony sex charges, including two felony counts of first-degree sex abuse involving two girls, ages 12 and 15. At that time, he was also charged with felony first-degree promoting prostitution and felony electronic solicitation of a child who was reportedly 12 years old at the time.

In March of this year, Bywater was arrested and charged with 10 felony counts of possession of child pornography. Those counts plus a first-degree sexual abuse charge are what the indictments were returned for. The 33^rd Judicial Circuit District Attorney Kirke Adams said in April that the charges all stem from a 2014 investigation as authorities “had been waiting on forensics to be returned” on the electronic devices, including phones, that had been confiscated.

In 2014, Daleville detectives said an anonymous source reported allegations of sexual misconduct and sexual abuse. After a 12 year old and a 15 year old were interviewed, Bywater was arrested, said officials. He was indicted on the original charges in 2015. The district attorney told the Sun-Courier in April that he expects to ask the court to consolidate all charges for trial.

The prostitution charge is a Class B felony and carries fines up to $10,000 and/or two to 20 years in prison. The electronic solicitation of a child charge, the two counts of first-degree sexual abuse and each of the 10 counts of possession of child pornography are Class C felonies and carry a sentence of up to 10 years and fines of no more than $15,000.

Bywater continues to be held in the Dale County Jail in Ozark under a $55,000 bond. His arraignment is set for 9 a.m. on Aug. 9 at the Dale County Courthouse.

Investigators obtained a search warrant of Bywater’s home and seized a computer, cell phone and electronics that were presumed to be used in the electronic solicitation via Facebook.