2 St. Francois County men face child sex crime charges

ST. FRANCOIS COUNTY, Mo., (KBSI) — Two men have been arrested in St. Francois County on child sex crimes charges following an investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control.

Robert Rutherford-Sobol, 32, of Bonne Terre, was arrested May 20, and Christopher C. Short, 24, of Farmington, was arrested May 21.

Rutherford-Sobol has been charged with one felony count of possession of child pornography and is being held on a $50,000 bond.

Short has been charged with two felony counts of sexual trafficking of a child and is being held on a $200,000 bond.

The arrests were the result of online child pornography investigations, which led to the execution of search warrants at the men’s residences.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol encourages internet users to report any attempts of unwanted or inappropriate communications with children.

The charges are mere accusations, and evidence must be presented in court to determine guilt or innocence.