Man charged with statutory rape, sodomy in Callaway County

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man from Bland, Missouri, has been charged with multiple child sex crimes after authorities claim the man had a preyed on a minor.

Chase Branson, 22, was charged last week with second-degree statutory rape, second-degree statutory sodomy, possessing child porn, misdemeanor giving pornographic to a minor and tampering with a victim He is being held at the Callaway County Jail without bond. An initial court appearance was scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.

The probable cause statement says someone described as a witness – who was also a minor – came across a tablet and found an inappropriate conversation between Branson and the 16-year-old victim.  Branson allegedly first tried to pursue the witness -- who denied him after disclosing her age – before starting the “relationship” with the victim, court documents say.

Branson allegedly had sex with the victim in October and exchanged nude photographs with the victim several times since September, court documents say. Branson also allegedly showed the victim an application for the tablet that could hide photos that were sent and received, the statement says.

Branson allegedly admitted partaking in the assaults to law enforcement, as well as knowing the victim’s age and exchanging photos, court documents say.