Columbia man charged with child molestation, resisting arrest

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man has been charged with a pair of felonies after authorities say he molested a child multiple times.

Jacob Knowles, 31, was charged on Tuesday with first-degree child molestation and resisting arrest. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. An arraignment was held on Wednesday and he appeared from the jail without bond.

The probable cause statement says a youth told someone at their school on Monday that they had been inappropriately touched by Knowles and that Knowles also exposed himself to the victim. The most-recent assault allegedly occurred on Friday, the statement says.

When police arrived to Knowles residence, he allegedly ran out of the home to get away, the statement says. Officers were able to grab him and arrest him. Knowles allegedly told officers that he ran away because he didn’t want to be arrested.

A confined docket hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday, while a preliminary hearing is set for 9 a.m. Thursday, April 9.