Man found guilty in rape, abduction case

By COREY NOLES ~ Dexter Daily Statesman

A Stoddard County man accused of a 2012 rape and abduction near Advance was found guilty by a jury of his peers Thursday afternoon in a Franklin County courtroom.

Steven Clark Rendleman, 52, was found guilty after the jury deliberated for less than an hour at the conclusion of his three-day trial.

Rendleman originally was charged with forcible rape with aggravating acts, forcible sodomy and armed criminal action, kidnapping, felonious restraint, two counts of felony of assault of a law enforcement officer in the first degree, property damage and resisting arrest.

In November, Rendleman pleaded guilty to first-degree assault of a law enforcement officer in and armed criminal action. He was tried this week on the remaining charges.

Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russell Oliver said after the trial's conclusion he was "very pleased" with the case's outcome.

"The guilty verdict assures that a man who has had two prior rape convictions will never again step foot on the streets of Stoddard County," he said. "Numerous future victims have been saved this pain and torment in years to come."

A jury of 10 women and two men convicted Rendleman.

The state presented 13 witnesses during the trial, but was not allowed to mention the defendant's criminal history. While not necessarily needed for a conviction, Oliver said it would be admissible for the sentencing portion of the proceedings.

Oliver said the only possible sentence in the case is life without the possibility of parole. He is set to receive that for the forcible rape and forcible sodomy charges. For the kidnapping charge, he faces 10 years to life in prison. For the assault on a law enforcement charge, he faces 15 years. For the armed criminal action sentence, there is no limit on the sentence.

Rendleman is scheduled for a sentencing hearing July 14.