ANDERSON — A 21-year-old Anderson man is being held on $35,000 bond for allegedly performing a sex act on a 13-year-old girl.

Anderson police arrested Spencer A. Atwood on suspicion of child molestation, a Class A felony punishable by 20 to 50 years behind bars, at about 12:15 a.m. Monday. He made an initial court appearance, also Monday, but no formal charges have been filed against him. Madison County Magistrate Stephen Clase approved a request from prosecutors for an extra three days to file charges.

According to a probable cause affidavit:

The 13-year-old girl told police she spent Saturday night at a friend’s home in the 2400 block of Central Avenue, where Atwood also lives with his wife and children.

At about 6:30 a.m. Sunday, the girl and Atwood were watching a movie when he began fondling himself and asked the girl to touch him. He told her he wanted to have sex with her, and tried to kiss her.

The girl turned him down, and went to a bathroom to get away from him. Atwood followed the girl, closed the door and performed a sex act on the girl. Atwood’s wife began knocking on the bathroom door and found him inside the room with the girl.

Atwood reportedly admitted to performing the sex act on the girl when questioned by police. He said the act was consensual.

The Herald Bulletin doesn’t generally identify those believed to be a sex-crime victim.