Patton man accused of rape of 68-year-old woman

Larry Don James, 50, of Patton, Missouri, was arrested Friday on felony charges of first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy, first-degree elder abuse and incest.

At 3:17 a.m. Nov. 27, Bollinger County sheriff's deputies went to a home in rural Bollinger County to investigate a report of rape, deputy Matthew Kight wrote in a probable-cause statement. The 68-year-old victim identified her attacker as James and said he had attempted to rape her before, but it was the first time she was unable to fight him off, Kight wrote.

The victim was sleeping on the couch when James jumped on top of her, and she tried to hit him with a flashlight, according to the statement. James was staying with the victim at the time.

Police collected evidence from a sheet on the couch, and a rape kit was performed on the victim at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. James was arrested and interviewed at the Bollinger County sheriff's office but refused to say anything, Kight wrote.

The sexual-assault nurse said the victim had bruises on her arms consistent with restraint and had pain and bleeding indicating rape, according to the statement. The nurse examiner also noted a black sticky substance on her the victim said came from James because he was on a roof earlier that day, Kight wrote. The examiner also obtained a sample of DNA.

Kight noted during the booking process James was dirty, with a black tar substance on his hands and bluejeans.

A Bollinger County Sheriff representative said the DNA evidence has not yet been processed. James' bond was set at $100,000 on the condition he has no contact with the victim.

bkleine@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3644

Pertinent address: Bollinger County Road 362,