Sex offender accused of trying to lure child into white van in Morgan County
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A registered sex offender from Versailles was charged on Thursday after he allegedly tried to lure a child into a white van on Wednesday.
James Anthony Ferrell, 64, was charged in Morgan County with child enticement, second-degree attempted kidnapping and drug possession. He is being held at the Morgan County Jail without bond. A court date has not been posted.
According to the probable cause statement, Morgan County deputies were called to a residence for an attempted child abduction. A child stated in court documents that a white van pulled up slowly and a man said, “Hey do you want to come with me?” The child ran inside their home and told their mother about the encounter, the statement says.
The mother allegedly told law enforcement that she saw the van leaving and was able to snap a photo, the statement says. The license plate was registered to Ferrell, the statement says.
Deputies later found Ferrell in his Dodge van after he immediately shaved his face to change his appearance, court documents say. Ferrell allegedly told deputies that he was visiting a friend in a nursing home, which was near the child’s home, the statement says.
Deputies searched the van and found rope, blankets, pillows, “small items of a child-like nature,” a child-sized fishing pole and more, court documents say. The van was towed to the sheriff’s office impound lot.
Ferrell alleged that he waved to the child, but didn’t speak to them, the statement says. The child claimed no one waved, the statement says. Ferrell alleged that he was slowing down his van so he could “look into the trash,” court documents say.
Deputies asked Ferrell if his phone had any files that involved sexual content involving children, and Ferrell said he watched high school wrestling on his phone, court documents say.
Deputies later searched his home and found several cellphones, SD cards, hard drives, handcuffs, more rope and several children’s toys, the statement says. Methamphetamine was also found in the home, deputies wrote.
The bond recommendation claims that the Sedalia Police Department reported a similar incident with a similar-looking vehicle the same day. Flock cameras were used to identify Ferrell’s vehicle in Sedalia, the bond recommendation says.
