Belle man accused of sexually assaulting teenager

BELLE, Mo. (KMIZ)

An 18-year-old Belle man was charged on Wednesday with a pair of sexual assault charges.

Issac James Pruett was charged with first-degree sodomy and first-degree sexual abuse. He was arrested on Jan. 4 and is being held at the Maries County Jail on a $10,000 bond, according to court records. A court date has not been set.

According to the probable cause statement, Pruett allegedly forced himself onto a teenager after she tried to push him away. The statement says the girl’s father entered the room the two were in. The father allegedly did not see anything “sexual in nature,” but noticed his daughter appeared uncomfortable.

Pruett left and immediately began sending messages to the victim and asked questions, including if the victim was scared and if law enforcement would be called, the statement says.

Deputies allegedly heard an audio clip of Pruett admitting to the assault. Pruett then eventually said in the clip that he didn’t feel the victim push him back or hear the victim say stop, according to court documents.

A Child Advocacy Interview was conducted on Dec. 28 and the victim stated multiple times to the interviewer that she did not consent and tried to push Pruett away, the statement says.

The statement also claims Pruett had inappropriately touched girls at Belle High School while he was a student.