Callaway Co. man charged with 12 counts of felony child sex crimes

A New Bloomfield man was arrested earlier this month for a dozen child sex crimes against two children, ages 5 and 8.

Last year Callaway County had 68 reports of sexual assault throughout the year. This year there have already been more than half of that number.

“We’ve handled approximately 45 complaints just this year,” said Lt. Clay Chism with the Callaway County Sheriff’s Department.

He said the case involving Robert Joseph Pope II is different than most sex offenses.

“This case dates several months, years, involving multiple victims and multiple offenses,” said Chism.

31-year-old Pope was charged with the 12 felony counts on the two children now ages 8 and 12.

Sources said Pope turned himself in to Callaway County authorities; confessing that he did in fact commit the crimes.

The sex crimes also allegedly started by sexually abusing the two children when they were just five and eight years old.

Chism said if anyone knows of any child who is being sexually abused to call authorities or to remain anonymous to call the state of Missouri child abuse hotline.

Pope is set to appear in court June 26th and is still in custody on $100,000 bond.