Whitewater man charged with statutory sodomy

Rockland D. Gleason, 60, of Whitewater faces a charge of first-degree statutory sodomy after allegedly molesting a girl younger than 14.

The sexual assault was reported by the victim's parents Friday, after the child told another family member about the incident involving Gleason, according to a probable-cause statement signed by detective Jamie Malugen of the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department.

The victim's mother questioned her about what she had told her relative, and she said a man later identified as Gleason molested her on July 30.

Gleason agreed to speak with police about the incident, and said he and the vicitm had been playing video games in his room when she began rolling around the bed with him, the statement said.

He stated that when she pulled his pants down, he asked her to touch him.

Shortly after the incident, she left to go tell a relative what had happened, Gleason told police, according to the sworn statement.

Bond was set at $50,000 cash only.

An ex parte order was filed against Gleason on Aug. 1, and according to the sworn statement, the child's parents sought such an order to keep Gleason away from their residence.