A 26-year-old Sedalia man is facing felony charges for allegedly having inappropriate sexual contact with a teenage female more than two years ago.
According to a probable-cause statement, on August 14, 2017, a teenager reported in explicit detail to a Child Safe investigator what happened at a residence six days earlier. She said she woke up to Jesus Alberto Vanegas-Esquivel being on top of her. She said her shorts had been pulled down and Vanegas-Esquivel had his pants pulled down.
The juvenile was seen at Children’s Mercy Hospital where a SAFE kit was done and sent to the Missouri State Highway Patrol lab in Jefferson City. On September 26, 2017, the MSHP lab confirmed “a stain consistent with seminal fluid was detected” on the swab from the girl.
Authorities say Vanegas-Esquivel had fled the area at that time. On February 20, 2020, Vanegas-Esquivel was located and arrested in Morgan County. He reportedly admitted to having inappropriate sexual contact with the juvenile.
Vanegas-Esquivel has been charged with a Class D Felony for Statutory Rape in the Second Degree and a Class E Felony for Child Molestation in the Fourth Degree- Child Less Than 17 Years of Age and Offender Greater Than Four Years Older. The court has ordered no bond.
Vanegas-Esquivel was in custody during his arraignment on Thursday, February 27. A Hearing for his cause has been scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 3 at Pettis County Circuit Court.
**Story has been updated to show current court proceedings.