Man pleads not guilty to sex abuse charges

BENTON, Mo. -- A Scott City man entered pleas of not guilty Wednesday to six felony charges that allege he abused an underage girl twice in September.

Darrion Crenshaw, 25, was arraigned before Judge Scott Horman at the Scott County Courthouse in Benton on two counts of statutory rape and four counts of statutory sodomy.

The second-degree charges are applicable under Missouri law when a person who is at least 21 has intercourse with someone 17 or younger.

Crenshaw enlisted the assistance of the public defender's office after the office determined he met indigency requirements.

Crenshaw will next appear in court at 2 p.m. Jan. 16 for a preliminary hearing. If he doesn't waive the hearing, prosecutors will present evidence to the judge in an attempt to prove that a crime was committed and it was committed by the defendant.

The felonies that Crenshaw faces carry a possible sentence of up to 42 years in prison.

He is being held at the Scott County Jail on $25,000 bond.

According to a probable cause statement, the victim's mother contacted the Scott City Police Department on Nov. 26 to report that her daughter had sex with Crenshaw on two occasions.

Crenshaw at the time was incarcerated on charges of stealing and resisting arrest.

Pertinent address:

Benton, Mo.