Sex offender to stand trial for alleged attempt at sex with 13-year-old girl

A convicted sex offender will stand trial for allegedly attempting to lure a 13-year-old girl -- who actually was a Cape Girardeau Police Department detective posing as a minor -- to Capaha Park for sex, Associate Circuit Judge Gary A. Kamp ruled Friday.

Larry E. Windeknecht was arrested Sept. 11 as he sat on a park bench waiting for the girl. Detective Darren Estes of the Cape Girardeau police, the only witness who testified at Windeknecht's preliminary hearing, said Windeknecht, 51, was waiting for a promised after-school encounter arranged through text messages.

Police began monitoring Windeknecht's text messages after the mother of a 13-year-old girl reported that her daughter had been receiving unwanted messages from a phone that was traced to Windeknecht, Estes testified. Windeknecht obtained the girl's telephone number after the mother's boyfriend used the girl's phone to call him, Estes said.

Over the course of two days after the investigation began, Windeknecht had sent 94 texts and received 47 in reply, Estes said.

The texts became gradually more suggestive, until Windeknecht asked the girl if she was a virgin and if they could meet if the girl skipped school.

"He appeared to become more bold," Estes said.

At Estes' suggestion, the meeting was arranged at Capaha Park, where Estes, other officers from the Cape Girardeau Police Department and members of the SEMO Cyber Crimes Task Force arrested him and confiscated the phone.

Under cross-examination from assistant public defender Mary P. Tucka, Estes said that after his arrest Winde­knecht denied that he was seeking sex with the girl.

During direct questioning from Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle, Estes said Windeknecht also told detectives that he was waiting for the girl because he was going to take her to her mother and report the "he had been receiving crazy text messages" from her.

Before the hearing began, Windeknecht sought a continuance, telling Kamp that a witness he needed was not available because he was in jail and that he had not had a chance to study a transcript of the text messages. Kamp denied the request, telling Windeknecht that he was raising issues that should be dealt with at the next step in the proceedings.

"You are not entitled to discovery," Kamp said. "You are not entitled to anything today."

Windeknecht will appear in circuit court Oct. 19.

rkeller@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent addresses:

Capaha Park, Cape Girardeau, Mo.

1 Barton Square, Jackson, Mo.