On Sunday October 25, two Fulton, MO men were arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl after giving her alcohol and drugs, according to a recent article at Fox 2 News.
The men, 42-year-old Brent Gibson and 26-year-old Lucas Pickering, have been charged with second-degree statutory rape, first-degree endangering the welfare of a child, possession of a controlled substance, and other offenses. The men reportedly raped the girl in a motel room in Kingdom City after injecting what the victim believed was methamphetamine into her arm.
An officer who interviewed the girl said that she had two needle puncture marks on her arm, consistent with her story that she was injected twice. Tests also revealed marijuana in the victim’s blood. She told investigators that both men raped her while she was awake, but incapacitated by the alcohol and drugs. A probable cause statement revealed that Pickering gave the victim meth that he snorted and smoked with her, and bought her alcohol.
A news article at the Columbia Tribune claims the victim is a runaway from Cole County; following the incident, she was taken into custody by the Missouri Dept. of Social Services Children’s Division. Pickering admitted to having sex with the girl, however Gibson denies the allegations. Both were being held on $50,000 cash-only bonds at the Callaway County Jail as of last news reports.
The rape of a minor is a serious criminal offense regardless of where it occurs. In Michigan, statutory rape is classified as criminal sexual conduct, and charged in the third degree. Maximum punishment for those convicted is 15 years in prison, along with other penalties including registration as a sex offender. When an individual is labeled a sex offender, it will affect nearly every aspect of his or her life including employment and housing opportunities. Being assigned to the Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry is something you want to avoid at all costs.
Regardless of the offense you have been accused of, all people are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. It is critical to work with a seasoned Michigan sex crimes lawyer who will fight for your freedom, protect your legal rights, and do everything possible to secure positive results. When charged with a sex-related crime, never take the situation and future into your own hands.