SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY, Va. — The stepfather of Katelin Akens, a Virginia teen who disappeared more than 10 years ago on the way to an airport, has been arrested on multiple child sex charges allegedly involving Akens and her sister.
James Branton faces eight charges stemming from June 2006, including two counts each of child cruelty, indecent exposure of a child, custodial indecent liberties and aggravated sexual battery, according to court records.
Branton's property in Spotsylvania, as well as a nearby park, was searched by forensic investigators on Friday afternoon. According to the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office, investigators were searching for "anything that could be associated with a crime."
Court documents outline alleged abuse
According to court paperwork, the abuse began in 2006 after Akens' mother, Lisa, married and moved in with Branton. Akens' sister described several instances in which Branton would punish them by forcing them to strip naked and bending them over his knee one at a time to spank them. She said Branton did this wearing only his boxers and that it usually happened in the middle of the night.
Akens' sibling also described a time when she woke up naked in bed with Branton sitting in a chair in her room, not knowing how her clothes were taken off while she was asleep.
Court documents state a neighbor said Akens told her Branton would sometimes leave his hands on her buttocks for an extended period during the spankings. The neighbor said she reported him to Child Protective Services.
When police asked the girls' mother about the abuse, she denied knowing the girls were stripped naked but claimed to have told Branton he had to stop spanking them.
Akens' 2015 disappearance
Akens' family members previously told WTVR CBS 6 that Branton dropped her off at Springfield Mall to catch a ride to the airport the morning of Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015.
Akens was supposed to be headed to the Franconia-Springfield Metro station and planned to take the Metro to Reagan National Airport to catch a flight to Arizona, family members said at the time.
The teen's luggage was found scattered across the 6600 block of River Road the morning of Monday, Dec. 7, 2015, near the Fredericksburg city limits.
Her roommate’s credit card, which was her only means of financial support, was still inside the luggage, family members said.
Akens' mom, Lisa Sullivan, told Jon Burkett that her daughter was dropped off at Springfield Mall to catch a ride to the airport.
"She texted and said she made it there, but we don't know if that's true," Sullivan said.
The family later learned that Akens never got on her flight.
"She and I text all day and if she doesn't hear from me, she'll blow up my phone if I don't answer her," Sullivan said.
Akens had lived in Arizona for more than a year, and Sullivan said she seemed excited to head west again to start a new chapter and go back to school.
VIDEO VAULT 2015: Luggage found on Spotsylvania road key clue in 19-year-old's disappearance
The Spotsylvania Sheriff's Office previously called Akens' disappearance suspicious in 2015.
"This investigation remains open and active. We appreciate the continued assistance from our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners," deputies said.
The Spotsylvania Sheriff's Office asked anyone with additional information about the case to call the office at 800-928-5822 or Spotsylvania Crime Stoppers at 540-582-5822.
WATCH: Forensic investigators search property of missing Virginia teen's stepfather
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