Man charged with statutory rape gets change of venue

A 36-year-old Cape Girardeau man accused of having sexual relations with a 14-year-old will now have his case heard in front of a Mississippi County judge.

Circuit Court Judge Benjamin F. Lewis granted the change of venue for Christopher M. King at a hearing Monday.

King was charged with second-degree statutory rape on March 11 for allegedly having intercourse with the 14-year-old around five times between December and March 4.

The victim, according to a probable-cause affidavit filed in the case, is also pregnant with King's child.

"This case will in all likelihood take awhile to resolve itself due to the accusation that Mr. King is the father of the child," said King's attorney, Ted Liszewski. "I plan to find out if that is indeed the case. That will require DNA testing, whether it be during the pregnancy or after birth."

In a separate hearing Monday, Lewis revoked King's probation granted to him in April 2008 for felony nonsupport of a child and sentenced to three years in prison.

ehevern@semissourian.com

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