Jackson resident faces charges of sexual abuse

A Jackson man is in the Cape Girardeau County Jail after being charged with five counts of first-degree statutory sodomy and two counts of first-degree child molestation.

The county sheriff's department said that Ricky E. Williams, 19, of 605 E. Adams St., was arrested Sunday morning on suspicion of molesting a 9-year-old girl.

According to the probable-cause affidavit submitted by Lt. David James, the victim told investigators that the abuse began during the 2003-2004 school year when she was in the third grade and continued throughout the school year. Williams is not related to the victim but is acquainted with a relative of hers.

The child stated that Williams would hold her down with one arm while abusing her with the other. He also threatened to hurt her further if she told anyone about the abuse.

According to the affidavit, Williams admitted to the abuse after being questioned Sunday morning at his residence and signed a statement to that effect. The affidavit states that Williams said the abuse began just before school started last August, and continued through last month.

The complaint filed by the prosecuting attorney states that Williams committed the felony of first-degree statutory sodomy on five occasions: between July 1 and Aug. 31, 2003, between Sept. 1 and Sept. 30, 2003, between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, 2003, and twice between May 1 and July 7, 2004. He further allegedly committed the class B felony of first-degree child molestation twice between Dec. 1, 2003 and May 1, 2004.

His bond was set at $100,000.