KENNETT — A Malden man appeared in court Tuesday after he recently was charged with enticing a teenager to participate in a sexual act for money.
Maurice Orlando Henderson, 52, waived formal arraignment on the unclassified felony of second-degree sexual trafficking of a child and the Class A misdemeanor of third-degree kidnapping.
In the appearance before Associate Circuit Judge John Spielman, Henderson was ordered to appear April 14 for a hearing in his case.
Henderson is being held in the Dunklin County jail on a $125,000 cash bond.
The charges against Henderson stem from an investigation by the Malden Police Department, which began on Friday when a woman called to report her 15-year-old son had been solicited for sexual favors by Henderson.
Officers Tiffany Pflasterer and Melvin Tibbs subsequently met with the woman and her son.
The teen, according to Pflasterer’s probable-cause affidavit, told the officers he was walking home from playing basketball Thursday evening when Henderson offered him a ride because it was raining.
“(The teen) stated Mr. Henderson would not take him home, but continued to drive around and eventually traveling to the Malden Airport, location on the north end of town, approximately two miles from (the teen’s) residence,” Pflasterer said.
Henderson, the teen alleged, began asking him about a sexual act and other sexual-related questions.
“(The teen) also stated Mr. Henderson offered him $10 to (perform a sex act on himself) in front of him,” Pflasterer said.
While the teen was in the vehicle, Pflasterer said, it was alleged Henderson “‘used crack.’ (He) said Mr. Henderson was smoking a white substance using a glass tube.”
Pflasterer said the teen further said “Henderson told him not to say anything to anyone and what happens in the car stays between them.”
Pflasterer said contact was made with Henderson at his Edwards Street residence. He reportedly was taken to the police department, where he was told of his rights.
When asked about his whereabouts on Thursday evening, Pflasterer said, Henderson reported he was out driving around in his vehicle.
“Mr. Henderson stated there was nobody with him to verify where he was,” Pflasterer said. “Later in an interview, Mr. Henderson stated he did pick up a young man and gave him a ride.”
Henderson, Pflasterer said, reported the teen told him he was 16 and wanted a ride to the airbase to see how far it was to his girlfriend’s house.
“Mr. Henderson denied using drugs in front of the juvenile,” Pflasterer said. “When asked about talking about sex … with the juvenile, he stated, ‘He didn’t recall.’
“Mr. Henderson went on to say he drove around with the juvenile for 25-30 minutes.”
Pflasterer said Henderson knew the juvenile was underage, and he did not have permission from the teen’s parents to drive him around.