A Franklin County man is behind bars after being charged with several counts of sexual abuse and sodomy of two little girls.
63 year old John Donald Smith from Russellville is charged with 10 counts of first degree sexual abuse and five counts of first degree sodomy.
Sheriff Shannon Oliver said the crimes allegedly began when two sisters, now in their 20's, were 3 and 4 years old. Reports said the abuse continued until they were in their early teens. Oliver said the girls reported that Smith threatened to kill them and their family if they told any one. Smith is an acquaintance of the family.
Smith is being held in the Franklin County Jail on a $500,000 bond.
