James W. Gooch, Jr., 90, remains in custody of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Adult Detention Center, charged Oct. 23 in a three-count felony warrant with alleged sexual assault of two minor female children in Owensville.

Gooch made his initial court appearance Friday. He appeared before Osage County Associate Circuit Judge Sonya Day Brandt via a Webex video conference for his arraignment and entered a plea of not guilty and was referred to the public defender’s office for legal representation.

Gooch was charged in a Gasconade County warrant with one count of the unclassified felony statutory sodomy involving a child under the age of 14, a second unclassified felony alleging statutory sodomy with a child under age 12, and the class E felony sexual misconduct involving a child under age 15 as a first offense. A $75,000 cash or surety bond was ordered in the case and Gooch is prohibited having any contact with the victims or from being around minor children. He has been jailed in Union since his arrest this past Wednesday.

Owensville were police investigating the report of a sexual assault against two minor female children who both told forensic interviewers Oct. 21 they had spent the night of Oct. 4 in Gooch’s home in the 100 block of West Link. Both young girls stated Gooch had touched them inappropriately.

City Marshal Scott Griffith, chief of police in Owensville, said this is an “ongoing investigation” and if anyone has any further information, they are asked to call the Owensville Police at 573-437-7770. Griffith said they believe there may be additional victims going as far back as 30 or 40 years. Anyone who may have something to report to police on this matter is urged to contact Griffith at the number above.

A hearing on a request for bond reduction is scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday through Brandt’s court. Gasconade County Associate Circuit Judge Ada Brehe-Krueger requested and received permission to recuse herself from the case.