The Early Police Department issued the following press release Monday morning:

On March 3rd, 2026, the Early Police Department was notified of a sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl and sexual contact with 3 other 13-year-old females. The incident occurred at a residence in Early during a sleepover with friends.  A suspect who was named in the assault was a relative of one of the victims. All victims and parents have been in contact with Law Enforcement.

During the investigation, Child Protective Services has also been involved. On March 5th, a forensic interview was conducted at the Puloxy River Children’s advocacy center in Stephenville with the 12-year-old. Detective Means interviewed the suspect, Joshua Clark Radle, a 36-year-old male from Early, the following day at the Early Police Department. Radle confessed only to the incidents with the 12-year-old. Radle stated that nothing happened with the other victims.

Later in the day of March 6th, Joshua Clark Radle turned himself in to the Early Police Department and was taken to the Brown County Jail and charged with Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child. Radle remains in the Brown County jail on a $150,000 bond. The investigation is continuing into the other sexual contact allegations with other victims.

FOLLOW UP 03/17/2026

Detective Means followed up with the other possible victims with interviews at the Puloxy River Children’s advocacy center in Stephenville. It was learned that other offenses of sexual assault and sexual contact occurred on different nights during the sleepovers. After consulting with District Attorney Michael Murray, A warrant was obtained for Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child, a first-degree felony. On 03/17/2026, the warrant was served on Joshua Radle in the Brown County Jail with an additional $150,000 bond