Man charged with child molestation, statutory rape

DEXTER, Mo. — A 19-year-old Dexter man has been charged with first-degree child molestation and first-degree statutory rape.

According to Detective Cory Mills of the Dexter Police Department, a 14-year-old girl, accompanied by her mother, appeared at the city police station Dec. 26 with claims that Shawn A. Steely had sexually assaulted the girl in July. The girl was 13 at the time of the alleged incident.

Steely admitted he and the victim were "lying down together in the bedroom," and that he engaged in foreplay with the girl and initiated intercourse, but said as he did, she told him "she was scared and wanted him to stop, which he did."

Steely remains at the Stoddard County Jail in lieu of a $75,000 cash-only bond.