A Lexington man is set to spend the next two-thirds of a century behind bars after his conviction on charges of statutory rape, incest, and possession of child pornography.

38-year-old Martin E Constante Jr received his sentence earlier this month in a Lafayette County Circuit Court, after a jury convicted him in February on five of the seven felonies brought against him. According to Prosecuting Attorney Kristen Hilbrenner, the victim informed law enforcement in January 2023 that she had been assaulted on multiple occasions, and named Constante as the assailant. Two of the locations were identified as a hotel in Lexington and a local orchard. Hilbrenner says the victim’s mother located photos of the child on Constante’s cell phone and turned the phone over to law enforcement.

Constante received 30-year sentences on each of the rape charges, along with a four-year concurrent sentence on each incest charge. The two rape convictions will run consecutively, followed by an additional seven years for the possession conviction. The trial took place in early February, after a mistrial had been declared last September. Constante has filed a notice of intent to appeal his conviction to the Western District Court of Appeals.

If you suspect a child is experiencing abuse or neglect, you’re strongly encouraged to call the Missouri Child Abuse and Neglect hotline at 800-392-3738. You can also make a report through the Department of Social Services’ website.