An Ozark County man, 32-year-old Matthew Hannaford of Brixey, has been charged with one count of second degree statutory rape and two counts of second degree statutory sodomy involving a victim younger than 17 years old.
The Ozark County Times reports according to online records, Hannaford waived formal arraignment and on July 10th, Associate Circuit Judge Cynthia MacPherson ruled he could be released from custody under monitoring by Court Probationary Services.
The charges stem from a legal case beginning in May, when the Ozark County Sheriffs Office was contacted by an investigator with the Division of Family Services about a possible sexual child abuse incident. An investigator made arrangements for the alleged 15-year-old to be interviewed at the Childrens Advocacy Center in West Plains.
During the recorded interview, the victim said she had been hired by Hannaford to help haul hay in 2017. During this time, she began staying at the Hannaford residence, where the sexual incidents occurred.
When the officer interviewed Hannaford at the sheriffs office on May 30th, Hannaford allegedly admitted some sexual contact with the teenager had occurred, but denied other sexual accusations, saying he felt what happened was wrong.
Hannaford is scheduled to appear in court on August 28th.
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