Man pleads not guilty to child molestation charges

BENTON, Mo. -- A Kelso, Missouri, man charged with statutory rape and child molestation in April has pleaded not guilty after the Missouri Supreme Court appointed a new judge.

Justin A. Williams, 22, is accused of raping a 6-year-old girl at a home in Kelso, according to a probable-cause affidavit filed in the case.

The Scott County Sheriff's Department went to the residence after a report was made. Williams had fled the scene but was arrested within 10 minutes, according to an earlier news release from the department. He has been in custody in lieu of $50,000 cash-only bond with the stipulation he have no contact with minors.

During the investigation, Williams admitted to detectives he had committed "acts of unlawful behavior" with a 6-year-old girl, the release stated. Williams appeared before Associate Judge Scott Horman on April 30, when he waived formal arraignment and qualified for the services of a public defender.

On May 14, he appeared again before Horman with his lawyer, Jemia Steele, and waived his preliminary hearing. The case was bound over to circuit court, and Judge David Dolan was assigned to the case.

Criminal misdemeanors and infractions are heard and decided by the associate circuit judge, according to Missouri statutes. In felony criminal cases, the associate circuit judge conducts a preliminary hearing to determine whether there is probable cause a felony has been committed. If probable cause is found, the case is bound over to the circuit level.

Williams waived his formal arraignment at the circuit level in May, and his attorney filed a motion for a change of judge.

In June, Judge Benjamin Frederick Lewis was assigned to the case. He has scheduled a trial-setting for Aug. 13.