CRIME

Lexington sports radio commentator charged with sexual abuse of 4-year-old girl

Kerry Lewis Mallard, 53, of Wildersville, was arrested Oct. 17, 2019 and accused of continuous sexual abuse of a minor.

West Tennessee sports radio commentator Kerry Lewis Mallard was arrested Thursday and charged with continuous sexual abuse of a minor.

Mallard, 53, is accused of telling a female child to touch his genitals on multiple occasions between April 2018 and August 2019 when she was four and five years old, according to court documents. He also allegedly touched himself in front of the child on multiple occasions.

The child told law enforcement that Mallard told her not to tell anyone. Mallard told authorities that he allowed the child to touch him once in August 2019, according to court documents.

The Henderson County Sheriff's Office took Mallard into custody at around 5:45 p.m. Thursday. Investigator Jeremiah Adams said the sheriff's office was notified of the accusations by the Lexington Police Department on Monday. 

The Department of Child Services is also involved in the investigation, and is also investigating allegations regarding a day care business at Mallard's Wildersville home, according to Adams.

Adams said the investigation is ongoing and there may be more potential victims. 

Lexington Broadcasting owner Don Enochs said Mallard has been relieved of all of his duties at the radio station.

Mallard served as advertising and sports director for WBFG-FM 96.5, a major West Tennessee sports station operated by Lexington Broadcasting. He also broadcasted Lexington High School sports games on the company's country music station WZLT-FM 99.3. 

Continuous sexual abuse of a minor is a felony count. Mallard was released from Henderson County Jail on $75,000 bond. He will be arraigned Oct. 22 in Henderson County General Sessions Court at 8 a.m. Mallard is barred from having contact with children or entering school grounds as conditions of his bond.

This story was updated at 12:00 p.m. on Oct. 18, 2019 to include information from the owner of Lexington Broadcasting.

Reach Cassandra Stephenson at ckstephens@jacksonsun.com or at (731) 694-7261. Follow Cassandra on Twitter at @CStephenson731.