A Starkville man was indicted by an Oktibbeha County Grand Jury in January for sexual battery and possession of a weapon by a felon.
Court records say 35-year-old James Bardwell, Jr. sexually assaulted a 12-year-old girl on or around Sept. 16, 2017.
Bardwell was also charged with possession of a weapon by a convicted felon on or about June 2, 2017. He had possession of one Rock River .45 caliber pistol.
Bardwell has been previously convicted in Oktibbeha County Circuit Court for two different felony charges.
In May of 2007, Bardwell was convicted of aggravated assault. In November of 2012, he was convicted of possession of stolen property.
Oktibbeha County Circuit Court Judge Lee Howard will preside over the case. No court date has been set for Bardwell. If found guilty of sexual battery,
Bardwell could face up to a life sentence in prison, according to Mississippi Code Bardwell, Jr 97-3-95 (1)(d)