An Owensville man remains jailed without bond in Linn, charged this past week in felony warrants in both Gasconade and Osage counties alleging the statutory rape and enticement respectively of a 14-year-old Osage County girl.

Kevin Scott Edwards, 41, was arraigned Monday on the Gasconade County felony via phone and a not guilty plea was entered, according to court records on the class D felony second-degree statutory rape allegation. He is also charged in Osage County with the unclassified felony alleging enticement of a child under age 15. He was ordered held without bond on the Osage County charge.

According to Gasconade County Sheriff Scott Eiler, Edwards was stopped in Osage County by sheriff’s deputies with a female passenger in his vehicle. She had been reported missing from her home on Route J.

“During the course of their investigation, the juvenile disclosed she and the adult male had sexual intercourse in Gasconade County and the adult male was taking her back home,” according to a report from Eiler. The two had apparently met in an online conversation, investigators learned. He reportedly had taken her to his residence in the 1700 block of Debbie Lane outside Owensville and was taking her home to Osage County when he was detained.

Bond on the Gasconade County charge was set at $50,000 cash or surety. Court records indicate Edwards was scheduled to make an initial court appearance in Osage County on Tuesday. He is scheduled for a case review at 9 a.m. today (Wednesday) before Associate Circuit Judge Ada Brehe-Krueger. His appearance in Osage County was scheduled with Associate Circuit Judge Sonya Day Brandt. 

A Missouri State Highway Patrol profile of registered sex offenders lists Edwards with a May 25, 2008, charge in Maryland Heights, Mo., for attempted enticement of a child under age 15. The victim in that case was also 14, according to the profile which lists Edwards as a Tier 2 offender. He was 28 at the time.

That level includes a provision where an offender may file court petition for adjudication of removal from the registry after  25 years if criteria are met.

“It’s still an ongoing investigation and he’s still in custody,” said Eiler. “This was good teamwork between Osage County and Gasconade County, and DFS (Children’s Division). We all worked as a good team.”

Edwards did not have a lawyer of record listed as of Tuesday.

In the probable cause statement filed in the application for felony charges, Gasconade County Sheriff’s Det. Lynde Mantels notes his investigation began Jan. 6 at the request of Osage County’s sheriff.

The girl, identified only by her initials, told investigators she had met Edwards on the online chat service “Chatiw.”

Mantel’s report indicates Edwards requested the chance to meet her at her residence at 10:30 p.m. Jan. 5. She left the residence with Edwards and drove with him to his residence on Debbie Lane.

According to the affidavit, they cuddled until Edwards is alleged to have requested she”get on top.” When she refused, Edwards is alleged to have raped her and choked her, along with holding her arms above her head. He did not use a condom, she told lawmen.

After the alleged rape, he began driving her home and was stopped in Osage County at approximately 4:38 a.m. Jan. 6.

“I am requesting a warrant in this matter due to the severity of the offense,” Mantels wrote in his affidavit. “Edwards’ current status as a registered sex offender, and Edwards’ history of preying on young children. It should be noted, Edwards has a previous conviction for enticement of a child less than 15 years of age from 2011.”