Scott City police investigate alleged sexual assault involving a minor
FOX23 News at 9 p.m.
SCOTT CITY, Mo., (KBSI) — Scott City police are investigating an alleged sexual assault involving a minor after an incident reported late Nov. 25, according to court documents.
Officers with the Scott City Police Department responded at about 8 p.m. to a residence following a report of a sexual assault involving a 16-year-old girl. The victim told police she had been inappropriately touched by a man she knew as “Mike Berry,” who was later identified as Jacob H. Hardesty.
According to the investigation, the victim and Hardesty began communicating through the social media app Snapchat on Nov. 24. The victim told investigators Hardesty initially claimed to be in his late teens or early 20s. The victim said she told Hardesty she was 16 years old.
The following evening, the victim went for a walk in her neighborhood when Hardesty reportedly pulled up in a white Ford Escape and asked her to get inside. Police said the vehicle was later parked on a nearby street, where the alleged assault occurred in the backseat.
The victim’s mother told investigators she located her daughter using a location-tracking app and found her in the backseat of the vehicle. She said she confronted Hardesty, who attempted to leave the scene before stopping and exiting the vehicle. The mother was able to obtain the license plate number, which was registered to Hardesty. Both the victim and her mother later positively identified him.
A forensic interview was conducted Dec. 1 at the Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence. During that interview, the victim provided additional details of the alleged assault and said Hardesty requested and exchanged explicit images with her through Snapchat.
Police said they later obtained records from Snap Inc., which included messages in which the victim stated her age as 16 and messages in which Hardesty acknowledged he was not supposed to be communicating with a minor. Investigators also said records showed Hardesty told the victim he was 31 years old and requested explicit photographs.
Court documents state investigators believe Hardesty poses a danger to the victim and the public, citing allegations that he provided false information about his age and attempted to leave the scene with the victim.
The case remains under investigation. All charges are accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
