Cape man faces child molestation, sodomy charges

A 27-year-old Cape Girardeau man faces charges of statutory sodomy and child molestation in connection with allegations of a girl younger than 12.

According to a probable-cause statement by Detective Jamie Malugen of the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department, authorities began investigating a June 3 hot line report involving a juvenile.

The Ozark Foothills Child Advocacy Center in Doniphan, Mo., conducted a forensic interview of the child and learned Steven M. Trout allegedly abused her at a residence in Cape Girardeau County.

Trout allegedly was in the bathroom, and the child followed him after he let her smoke a cigarette, according to the statement.

She told the interviewer she didn't know she shouldn't be in the bathroom while Trout was in there.

The child did not want to talk about the abuse that allegedly occurred in the bathroom, refusing to talk at times and pretending she was asleep at others, the statement said.

Further abuse allegedly occurred later in the living room of the residence.

Malugen interviewed Trout about the incident Monday, and Trout initially denied touching the child at all.

"Mr. Trout was really nervous, taking his welder's cap on and off, and couldn't sit still in the chair," the statement said.

Trout admitted to taking pills and drinking all day, and said he couldn't remember the incident too clearly because he was "really intoxicated" at the time.

Trout was arrested Tuesday and held on a $100,000 cash-only bond, with the condition that he avoid all contact with the child if released.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

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