WEBB CITY, Mo. —
An 8-year-old girl testified today that James A. Terry, of Webb City, has molested her on four occasions since she was 3 or 4 years old.
The girl’s testimony was heard at a preliminary hearing of the 64-year-old Terry in Jasper County Circuit Court in Joplin. Terry is facing four felony counts of child molestation for allegedly abusing four girls, all under the age of 12, over the course of the past several years.
Just one of the girls testified at Thursday’s hearing, with the other alleged victims anticipated to take the witness stand when the hearing is resumed next week. Associate Judge Richard Copeland delayed any decision on binding the defendant over for trial until the others have been heard.
The girl who testified Thursday said Terry molested her once in a spare bedroom of his residence where she was staying while his wife was baby sitting her. The other instances of alleged abuse took place at a park, at the girl’s church and beneath the Praying Hands monument in Webb City.
Crime & Courts
8-year-old testifies that Webb City man molested her
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Murder warrant issued in fatal domestic shooting
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