Hearing date set for January in sodomy case

JACKSON, Mo. -- A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Jan. 10 at 2 p.m. for the Cape Girardeau woman accused of sexual contact with a 14-year-old boy.

Pamela L. Recker, 43, appeared in court Thursday before Associate Circuit Judge Gary Kamp. Recker was represented by Cape Girardeau attorney Steve Wilson, who ushered Recker out a back way after her brief appearance.

Calls to her home Thursday went unreturned.

Recker was arrested Tuesday on a criminal complaint filed by assistant prosecuting attorney Lora Cooper. The complaint alleges Recker had contact with the teen on Dec. 9 in an area of Jackson near Lenco Avenue and Dogwood Street.

Recker is director of the Mississippi Valley Home Educators Association.

A probable-cause affidavit stated that when Recker was interviewed by police about the accusations, she admitted to having sexual contact with the boy. Recker was a friend of the boy's family.

She is charged with a class C felony of statutory sodomy in the second degree. Statutory sodomy is defined as someone 21 or older having deviate sex with someone less than 17. If the sex is consensual, it is still considered a crime.

If convicted, Recker faces a possible sentence of one to seven years in prison or one day to one year in the county jail and fines of up to $5,000.