MAN CHARGED WITH FIVE COUNTS OF ABUSE

JACKSON -- A 46-year-old man previously acquitted of sexually abusing a 10-year-old girl in 1990 has been charged with several instances of sexual abuse involving a 12-year-old girl, Jackson police said.

Richard D. Park of 804 Independence was charged with five counts of sexual abuse, police said.

If convicted on all five counts of the class C felony, Park could serve a maximum of 35 years in prison.

Almost 10 years ago, Park was found not guilty by a Cape Girardeau County jury of sexually abusing a 10-year-old at his residence. He had been accused of fondling the girl as she played checkers with his then-9-year-old son.

At the time of the trial, County Prosecutor Morley Swingle said that he had not been able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Park had fondled the girl, although Park and the girl both stated that they were sitting next to each other during the game of checkers.

Park is being held in the Cape Girardeau County Jail under $20,000 bond.