NEVADA, Mo. —
A Vernon County man is being held in jail in Nevada on a $250,000 bond stemming from charges that he sexually abused a young boy over a four-year period.
Jay L. Peery, 44, of rural Nevada, was arrested last week on three counts of first-degree statutory sodomy after a lengthy investigation by the Vernon County Sheriff’s Department.
Court documents indicate that the alleged victim is an 18-year-old resident of Webb City. He first disclosed to authorities in April of last year sexual abuse that allegedly took place between 2001 and 2005, when he was between 7 and 11 years of age.
Webb City police informed the Vernon County Sheriff’s Department of the complaint at that time, but the alleged victim failed to show up for a formal interview with a sheriff’s investigator. The case was reopened in January when the teen informed the Sheriff’s Department that he was ready to move forward with the complaint, according to court documents.
The young man alleges that Peery abused him on multiple occasions and through various sexual acts over the course of the four-year period. A probable-cause affidavit states that the Webb City teen also provided information indicating there may have been other alleged victims of the defendant.
That information led to the interview of a female who disclosed that Peery allegedly fondled her through her clothing when she was between the ages of 6 and 8. She informed police of a second girl who may have been a victim of the suspect, but that girl declined to speak with an investigator about the matter, according to the affidavit.
Information developed by investigators led to the interview of a third girl, 7 years old, who is from another state and alleges that Peery molested her in the summer of 2011.
The affidavit states that during a videotaped interview Jan. 30, Peery confessed to abusing all four children. But the charges filed against him at this point pertain only to the male victim.
Local News
Webb City teen’s disclosures lead to arrest
- Local News
-
-
Sheriff’s funds to pay for two building projects
Jasper County’s general fund budget may pay some initial costs for renovating and constructing two county buildings, but the final bill for the projects will come from law enforcement sales tax funds.
-
Pittsburg crews work to repair storm damaged Schlanger Park
City crews using heavy equipment spent Thursday cleaning up Schlanger Park after a storm tracked through Monday night.
-
No charges to be filed in Joplin shooting case
The nonfatal shooting of a 25-year-old man at a Joplin residence on May 13 has been deemed justified by authorities. Jacob B. Boykin, 21, of Joplin, shot Justin S. Johnson, 25, of Carterville, once in the chest with a small-caliber handgun at 5260 E. Sunny Acres Lane.
-
Mike Pound: DVD smells like pizza; how great is that?
Just when I think the rest of the world is passing us by, this great country does something that renews my faith in innovation. It does something that renews my faith in that can-do spirit that led Charles Lindbergh to fly nonstop across the Atlantic, thus leading to the invention of the airplane bathroom.
-
Joplin Board of Education to decide fate of East Middle School teacher
After hearing nearly 10 hours of testimony from more than a dozen witnesses and accepting more than 45 exhibits into evidence, members of the Joplin Board of Education voted to move behind closed doors Thursday night to decide whether Randy Turner, a communication arts teacher at East Middle School, will continue to teach.
-
Memorial Day travelers bemoan high gas prices
Norm Hayward and his wife, Claudia, have a couple of things going for them as they continue their increasingly expensive motor home trip around parts of the United States. For starters, the Phoenix, Ariz., couple are saving on hotel costs.
-
Cunningham Park vandalism estimated at $4,000
Vandals caused an estimated $4,000 worth of damage in Cunningham Park, draining the pool in the aquatic center of about 200,000 gallons of water and throwing some large landscaping rocks into the reflecting pond.
-
Joplin team drove through storm to get to Moore
It was a long drive in the middle of a severe thunderstorm that had earlier produced a massive tornado in Moore, Okla. With the two-year anniversary of Joplin’s deadly twister approaching on Wednesday, a team of 14 Joplin emergency workers was ready to risk the trip in order to get help to a hurting Moore.
-
Cunningham Park vandalism bill estimated at $4,000
The city estimates that vandals caused about $4,000 worth of property damage in Cunningham Park, draining the swimming pool of 200,000 gallons of water and moving some large landscaping rocks into the reflecting pond.
-
Content of book, students' access to it at issue in hearing for suspended teacher
A standing-room only crowd is present at the hearing this morning to decide the fate of suspended Joplin Middle School teacher Randy Turner, who has asked for the hearing before the board of education.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Sheriff’s funds to pay for two building projects
