BENTON MAN ARRESTED IN STATUTORY RAPE OF TEEN

BENTON -- A 49-year-old Benton man has been arrested for statutory rape, completing a two-year investigation that could result in more charges, the Scott County sheriff said.

William J. Rasmuson Jr. is charged with two counts of statutory rape and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, Sheriff Bill Ferrell said.

Rasmuson, who owns a pawn shop called Immediate Cash in Scott City, has been under suspicion approximately two years for his relationship with a girl who is now 17 years old, Ferrell said.

"It started out as a juvenile spending too much time with an adult," he said.

Only within the past two weeks have investigators been able to build a case against Rasmuson, the sheriff said. Some of the evidence of the man's relationship with the girl includes video cassettes and pictures, Ferrell said, but would not elaborate.

During the course of searches at Rasmuson's business and residence deputies found enough marijuana to charge him with a felony, Ferrell said.

At this point, Rasmuson is only being charged with sexual crimes connected with the one girl, a former resident of Benton who now lives in Cape Girardeau, Ferrell said. But it's likely that he will be charged in other sex crimes, the sheriff said.

Rasmuson is currently in the Scott County Jail under a $350,000 bond.