LINN — An Owensville man accused of sexually molesting two minor children at his home was granted access to public defense representation following an appeal heard Monday in Osage County.

Division 3 Circuit Judge Sonya Day Brandt granted James W. Gooch, Jr., 90, access to legal counsel through the Missouri State Public Defender office. Gooch appeared in person for the hearing on an appeal of his status as indigent which had previously been denied.

Brandt’s ruling this week had the line checked which noted: “Defendant is in need of legal services and does not have the financial means to hire his own defense. The Court finds that the Defendant is indigent and orders the Missouri State Public Defender to represent Defendant in this case when able to do so.”

Gooch remains jailed in Franklin County with a $75,000 cash or surety bond set for his criminal charges.

He had previously appeared by an audio Webex connection from the jail in Union to Brandt’s court in Linn on Oct. 31 when his request for bond reduction was denied. Gooch was charged Oct. 4 in a felony Gasconade County warrant with two counts alleging statutory sodomy or attempted statutory sodomy — deviate sexual intercourse — with a person less than 14 years old and another less than 12 years old. He is also charged with  a felony count alleging sexual misconduct involving a child under 15 as a first offense. The case was brought to the prosecution’s attention following an investigation by the Owensville Police Department which included forensic interviews of victims. Gooch’s case is scheduled to appear on Brandt’s court docket next at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 6, when a hearing on counsel status will be held.