Centertown man charged with statutory rape

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Centertown man was charged with a pair of felonies after allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl at a Jefferson City Hotel on Sunday.

Ian Roberts, 30, is charged with second-degree statutory rape and first-degree endangering the welfare of a child. He is being held without bond at the Cole County Jail. An arraignment was held Wednesday at the Cole County Circuit.

Jefferson City police were dispatched to the Days Inn on Jefferson Street after receiving a call about a possible runaway child at the hotel.

The victim told officers she met Roberts through the social media application Snapchat. She allegedly talked with him on the application and asked if he was willing to pick her up in Rolla. The victim was staying with a foster family in Rolla and ran away.

Roberts allegedly picked her up in Rolla and drove to Jefferson City. The victim allegedly told him she was 16. She told police Roberts allegedly said, “You’re a minor, I could get in a lot of trouble for this.”

Roberts then allegedly rented a room at the hotel. Staff told police the room was rented by Roberts, according to the probable cause statement. The victim told police they had intercourse in the hotel room, the statement said.

After the alleged rape, Roberts allegedly told the victim that he left something in his vehicle and left the room. After several minutes, the victim went to look for Roberts and realized his vehicle was gone and she was abandoned, according to the statement.

Law enforcement found Roberts at a residence on Kings Chapel Road in Centertown. He allegedly told police he thought the victim was 17 years old and denied knowing her true age. Roberts also allegedly told police that he rented the room but denies any sexual contact.