Teen suspect charged in statutory rape case
In the news
Nodaway County Prosecuting Attorney Robert Rice has filed felony statutory rape and child molestation charges against a Pickering teenager accused of committing sexual acts with an 11-year-old girl.
Justin Mikel Strough, 17, was being held in the Nodaway County jail in lieu of $30,000 bond.
If convicted of statutory rape, an unclassified felony, Strough could serve a prison term ranging from five years to life.
The child molestation charge is a Class B felony and carries a maximum prison sentence of 15 years.
Should Strough be found guilty of either charge, or both, he would be subject to lifetime registration and supervision requirements applicable to sex offenders in the State of Missouri.
According to a probable cause statement filed by a Nodaway County deputy, the sex was described as consensual.
The statement indicated that Strough was arrested following an investigation during which the girl reportedly said she had sex with the suspect.
In addition, authorities allege that after Strough was informed of his rights he admitted having sexual contact with the reported victim on two occasions, but said the encounters did not include full intercourse.
The probable cause statement said the alleged acts occurred earlier this fall when the reported victim was only 10 years old.
In Missouri, accused teen offenders are tried as adults beginning at age 17 and can be certified as adults by Juvenile Court at a younger age if alleged to have committed a serious offense such as murder, sale of drugs, robbery, rape, or assault.
