A Poplar Bluff man sits in the Butler County jail after he allegedly engaged in sexual contact with a 13-year-old girl.
Lee A. Abraham, 53, of the 600 block of Maple Street is charged with two unclassified felony counts of statutory sodomy or attempted statutory sodomy with a person less than 14 years of age.
According to the probable cause statement from Poplar Bluff Police Department Detective Jason Morgan, he was dispatched to PBPD headquarters on the afternoon of April 3 to interview a recovered missing juvenile.
When Morgan arrived, he was contacted by Lt. Joe Ward, who informed him that the juvenile, a 13-year-old girl, was reported as a runaway the previous afternoon. Additionally, PBPD received a citizen report that the girl had been standing in front of JD’s Convenience Store on North Main Street the previous afternoon, approximately 90 minutes before she was reported as a runaway.
Morgan said Ward reported during a preliminary interview with the girl that she said she was picked up in there area by a man who was later identified as Abraham.
Danielle Mohrmann, a forensic interview specialist with Great Circle, conducted an interview with the girl at approximately 5:30 p.m. April 3. During the forensic interview, the girl said Abraham picked her up and later took her to a mobile home and a trailer park that allegedly belongs to one of his friends. While there, the girl and Abraham allegedly smoked a marijuana cigarette and the girl said she became “really high.“
According to police reports, the girl said she and Abraham engaged in sexual acts.
The girl reported that she asked Abraham to stop at least five times, but he didn’t. She told officials he later dropped her off at a house in town and she walked back to the gas station where he initially contacted her.
She was contacted there by PBPD.
Morgan interviewed Abraham at PBPD headquarters on the afternoon of April 7 with Lt. Josh Stewart present. After Abraham was read his Miranda rights, Morgan questioned Abraham about his involvement with the girl. Abraham initially denied knowing the girl, then said he thought she was 18. He said he took the girl to McDonald’s where he bought her a meal and that he dropped her off at his friend’s house after they rode around a little bit. Abraham has denied all allegations, according to law enforcement.
Abraham is being held without bond at the Butler County jail. He was arraigned on Monday at the Butler County Courthouse.