A Poplar Bluff man has been charged with raping a juvenile in November 2019.
Phillip Dean Lee, 59, was booked at the Butler County jail on Wednesday on the charge of first-degree statutory rape of a juvenile under the age of 14. He was released on bail.
The charges stem from a hotline call to the Department of Family Services in December 2019, law enforcement has reported.
According to the probable-cause statement on file at Butler County courthouse, Stacy Sloan from DFS and Poplar Bluff Police Sgt. Chuck Harris visited the alleged victim’s residence in reference to allegations that Lee had sex with a juvenile.
The statement goes on to say Danielle Mohrman from Great Circle did a forensic interview with the alleged victim on Dec. 7, 2019.
The girl, who was 12 at the time of the alleged incident, told officials she was sleeping on the couch in the living room when Lee came into the room. Lee is accused of having sexual intercourse with the girl at that time. When she awoke the next morning, the girl told officials she had money in her hand.
Butler County Prosecutor Kacey Proctor filled a complaint Jan. 13, 2021, in reference to the case, ordering an arrest warrant be issued, which took place on March 5.