Advance man arraigned on rape, other charges

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- An Advance, Mo., man charged in connection with a recent rape was arraigned in a Stoddard County courtroom Thursday morning, the Daily Statesman reported. Steven Clark Rendelman, 51, will reappear in court April 5. He was arrested early March 18 on suspicion of a rape that began with an alleged abduction from Charley Brown's Bar in Advance. He is charged with the unclassified felonies of forcible rape with additional aggravating acts and forcible sodomy, felony kidnapping, felonious restraint, two counts of first-degree assault of a law enforcement officer, felony property damage and resisting arrest.

His arrest came when officers were alerted to the potential abduction and began the investigation. Stoddard County Sheriff's Deputy Tim McCoy pulled into a rural Advance cemetery where he found Rendelman and the victim. The victim ran to the police car and a car chase ensued that involved several gun shots fired by officers. After multiple attempts to subdue Rendelman with a tazer, he eventually conceded.

Judge Joe Z. Satterfield allowed Rendelman no bond, arguing that he is a "danger to the community."

Sheriff Carl Hefner commended his officers for their hard work in what he deemed "saving that girl's life."

Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russell Oliver announced he will be seeking life without the possibility of parole due to Rendelman's multiple prior rape convictions in Stoddard and Cape Girardeau counties. A group of females appeared at the Monday evening Advance City Council meeting demanding that Charley Brown's bar be closed and city police officers receive better training to handle a kidnapping situation.

A hearing will be held within the next week to determine the bar's fate.

Pertinent address:

Advance, MO

Bloomfield, MO