Sex offender accused of molesting child, woman accused of leaving child in his care

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A registered sex offender in Pettis County has been charged with child molestation.

Matthew Platt is charged with first-degree child molestation and failing to register as a sex offender. Kristy White is accused of leaving a child in Platt’s care and was charged with first-degree child endangerment. Platt is being held on a $250,000 bond, while White is being held on a $15,000 bond.

A counsel status hearing for Platt is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 5, while White has a hearing set for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 12.

The probable cause statements in the case say that the victim told authorities on April 5 about five separate instances of being sexually abused by Barrett.

White allegedly told authorities that she knew Platt was a sex offender “but stated she trusted him around the children,” and made claims the victim lied “but was unable to provide [law enforcement] with a reason why she would,” court documents say.

Platt allegedly denied the allegations to law enforcement, but then claimed he gave the young child a “hickey” on their arm because the victim “asked him to do it,” court documents say.