Accused being held on $100K cash bond
BY KYLE TROUTMAN ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com
A Purdy man is facing three felony charges after allegedly restraining and molesting a victim in Barry County.
Jesi Owen, born 1989, of Purdy, is charged with first-degree kidnapping, first-degree rape and first-degree sodomy.
According to a probable cause statement filed by Det. Jeremy Berner, with the Barry County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Forrester responded to a possible disturbance at a home in Barry County on Dec. 26, 2024. Berner began a further investigation on Dec. 30, 2024, when the victim reported being restrained against their will and physically molested by Owen, who was told to stop multiple times but allegedly refused to stop.
The victim further reported Owen penetrated multiple orifices by his person and with a device, which after an examination at Cox Monett Hospital, resulted in a genital laceration.
On Jan. 7, during a Mirandized interview at the Barry County Sheriff’s Office, Berner said Owen stated he had sexual intercourse with the victim and admitted to the victim being tied up.
Berner is being held in jail on a $100,000 cash bond. A disposition hearing is scheduled for Jan. 23 at 8:30 a.m. in the courtroom of Judge Robert Foulke.
