Officials seek Perryville boy on sexual abuse warrant

Southeast Missourian

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Police were seeking a 17-year-old boy charged with sexually abusing an 11-year-old relative.

Steven A. Wade Jr., of a last known address of Farmington, Mo., was charged Tuesday with two felony counts each of attempted statutory sodomy, promoting a sexual performance by a child and sexual misconduct involving a child.

In February and March, Wade is suspected of fondling himself in front of an 11-year-old boy, who was a family member, a news release from the Perryville Police Department stated.

Wade asked the boy to also fondle himself, and asked if the two could touch each other, according to the release.

In an interview with investigators, Wade admitted that he touched himself in front of the boy and was trying to teach his young relative how to do the same, the release stated. Following the interview, police released Wade pending charges, police chief Keith Tarrillion said.

As of Thursday afternoon, Wade had not been located and arrested, according to Tarrillion. Police believe him to be in the Farmington area.

A cash-only bond for Wade was set at $10,000.