R-M staff
A 44-year-old Perryville man faces multiple felonies in connection with a series of alleged sexual assaults involving a teenager.
The crimes in question occurred as far back as February 2020 and include three counts of statutory sodomy/second degree, two counts of child molestation/fourth degree and enticement or attempted enticement of a child.
Randy Woods was taken into custody without incident the evening of June 25.
The arrest warrant details the charges. For the three counts of statutory sodomy, the defendant allegedly knowingly had deviate sexual intercourse with an individual less than 17 years old at the time.
For the molestation charge, the defendant allegedly knowingly touched the victim’s breast with his hand.
On the child enticement charge, the defendant allegedly coaxed, enticed, lured, persuaded or solicited the victim by offering money for sexual intercourse.
In a probable cause affidavit prepared by the Perry County Sheriff’s Office, a 911 call was received about an alleged sexual assault at 10:05 p.m.
Friday, June 25, at approximately 3:10 p.m., an interview was conducted with the victim by an individual with the Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence. The assault was described as “frequent” and the individual was threatened by the defendant “to not tell anyone.”
In the interview, the victim admitted the defendant offered “$100 to have sex” and also said the incidents started a short time prior to the “COVID pandemic and continue through June 2021.”
On June 25, at approximately 6:17 p.m., a sergeant arrived at the defendant’s home. Moments later, the defendant was arrested without incident and taken to the Sheriff’s Office. Wood was read his Miranda’s rights at approximately 6:30 p.m. and did not wish to speak anymore without an attorney present.
Woods initially was scheduled to appear in court Aug. 10, however, his attorney Jacob Zimmerman filed a motion for continuance earlier this summer and the motion was granted.
In addition, Woods’ bond was amended on July 1 from $20,000 cash only plus GPS monitoring to $20,000 cash or surety plus GPS monitoring and have no contact with the victim or the victim’s parents.
Woods was scheduled to appear in Perry County Court Tuesday, Aug. 24, for a preliminary hearing. That initial appearance was waived. His next appearance in court will be Friday, Sept. 3.
Each of the statutory sodomy cases are class D felonies with a range of punishment of imprisonment not to exceed seven years in the Missouri Department of Corrections, a fine not to exceed $10,000, or by both imprisonment and fine.
The child molestation charges are class E felonies with a conviction punishable for a term not to exceed four years imprisonment by the Missouri Department of Corrections or other authorized penal institution.
A conviction of the enticement of a child charge comes with a range of punishment of not less than five years and not to exceed 30 years as well as not being eligible for parole for five years.
