Perryville man sentenced to 15 years in prison

Judge Scott Lipke sentenced Timothy Brandes, 50, of Perryville, to 15 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for child molestation in the second degree July 21.
The investigation for this case was led by Det. Michelle Priest, with the Perryville Police Department, and Det. Amber Crites, with the Perry County Sheriff’s Office.
Officers were notified of the molestation on April 4 when the victim disclosed the sexual abuse to a parent, who then immediately notified law enforcement. In addition to the statements of the victim, law enforcement officers were able to recover security camera footage showing some of the acts of sexual abuse.
The case was referred to the Perry County Prosecuting Attorney, Caitlin Pistorio, on April 5 and charges were filed that same day by Pistorio.
Before charges were filed, multiple witnesses notified law enforcement that Brandes had left the state of Missouri with a large sum of cash.
A nationwide search for Brandes was conducted with the assistance of federal, state, and local law enforcement officers before Brandes eventually turned himself in on April 10, 2021 at the behest of his friends.
On May 19, 2021, Brandes appeared in front of Judge Lipke and pled guilty to the single count of child molestation in the second degree.
During his plea, Brandes admitted to the court that he touched the 12-year-old victim and that he did so for sexual gratification.

Between May 19 and July 21, a sentencing assessment report was conducted by the Missouri Board of Probation and Parole.
This report summarizes for the court the facts of the case, the defendant’s criminal history, the victim’s position, and the defendant’s version of events.
At sentencing, a victim impact statement was submitted to the court from the victim’s mother detailing the lasting effect this offense has had, and will continue to have, on the victim and the victim’s family.
Prosecuting Attorney Pistorio asked the court to impose 15 years of imprisonment, which is the maximum sentence allowed for the offense under Missouri law.
After considering arguments from both sides and reviewing the sentencing assessment report, Judge Lipke sentenced Brandes to the maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment.
Brandes had previously served six years in the Missouri Department of Corrections after a Cape Girardeau County jury found Brandes guilty of two counts of forcible sodomy in 1995.
In both cases, the victims were 12-year-old juveniles.