From the Courts

Man Gets 28 Years in Prison for Kirkwood Rape

The 2011 sexual assault of a then 15-year-old victim occurred behind a building near South Ballas and Old Big Bend roads.

A Manchester man was sentenced to 28 years in prison earlier this week for the 2011 rape of a then 15-year-old girl in Kirkwood. Robert B. Hunt, who was 19 at the time of the incident, was found guilty of one count of forcible rape and one count of armed criminal action on Tuesday, according to court documents. Both charges are felonies. Hunt was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the charge of rape and 3 years in prison for the charge of armed criminal action. The sentences will be served consecutively.  According to Kirkwood police, around noon on Aug. 15, 2011, Hunt was riding his bicycle near South Ballas and Old Big Bend roads, when he came across the minor teenage victim, who was sitting on a bench. The two began talking and Hunt …

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Police Expect More Charges in Sex Assault Investigation Involving West County Teen

The Des Peres Police Department is now involved in the investigation of Joshua Witkowski of West County after dozens of girls told police they were assaulted by the 19-year-old.

The following information was supplied by the Manchester Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction where an arrest was made.   (Sign up here for the FREE Patch Newsletter, including Breaking News Alerts.)  Police now say approximately 25 girls have now come forward in connection to a West County teen charged with felony sexual assault.  Joshua D. Witkowski, 19, of the 200 block of Ballwin Avenue in Winchester is charged in connection to a case involving a 14-year-old female. As previously reported by Patch, police said the teenage girl did not consent to the act and DNA evidence was used to link Witkowski to the alleged assault.  Manchester Police Sergeant Dan Rehm tells Patch more charges against Witkowski may be coming. He …

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Man Charged in Connection With Sexual Assault of Underage Girl

Incident occurred near South Ballas and Old Big Bend Roads on Monday.

On Wednesday, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged a 19-year-old man from Manchester with with one count forcible rape, one count forcible sodomy and two counts of armed criminal action in connection with an alleged sexual assault in Kirkwood. According to police, at about noon on Monday, Robert B. Hunt was riding his bicycle near South Ballas and Old Big Bend Roads, when he came across the minor teenage victim, who was sitting on a bench. The two began talking and Hunt convinced the girl to walk behind a business. Once there, he sexually assaulted her, police say in a statement released Wednesday. Hunt, who was arrested on Tuesday, will be transferred to the St. Louis County Jail, where he will be held on $150,000 …

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tonia

3:47 pm on Tuesday, October 16, 2012

I wish that my Child had never been assaulted by this sick monster, I am sorry that these Adults in this area where many tragedies have happened, this is there response? Unbelieveable!   more ›

Man Arrested in Kirkwood for Forcible Rape

The alleged sexual assault occurred near Old Big Bend and South Ballas Roads and involved a minor, police say.

Kirkwood police arrested a 19-year-old Manchester man Tuesday for forcible rape, the Kirkwood Police Department says in a statement released Tuesday. On Monday, police received a report of a daytime outdoor sexual assault involving a minor teenage girl near Old Big Bend and South Ballas Roads. The suspect is being held pending the presentation of the case to the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Because of the age of the victim, the nature of the crime and the fact that the case is still under investigation, Kirkwood police are releasing no further information at this time. The following arrest information was supplied by the Kirkwood Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction.

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Webster University Conference Discusses 'Women's Rights as Human Rights'

The university's Institute for Human Rights held a Humanitarian Studies conference to link local efforts with global causes.

A meeting of the minds convened at Webster University for a two-day conference on women's issues in the Emerson Library. The conference, titled "Women's Rights as Human Rights," was hosted by the university's Institute for Human Rights and Humanitarian Studies. Linking local organizations with international efforts has been the focus of the forum, which ran from 8:45 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday and concluded today at noon. Topics included everything from access to education to physical security and from women's empowerment to economic rights. Among the Webster University students in attendance was Meghan Cowlang, a senior undergraduate majoring in Psychology and minoring in Women's Studies. As a future social worker, meeting with counseling…

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Update: Defendant in Sexual Assault Case Seeks Bond Reduction

Attorney says $75,000 is too high.

Torris Caston, a man accused of a 2005 sexual assault in Webster Groves, will appear before a judge Tuesday at a bond hearing. Caston was released from the St. Louis County Jail this past Friday, a day after Webster Groves police arrested Caston on a warrant for the charge of Statutory Rape in the Second Degree. Caston's family was able to provide enough money for his release, but the defendant's bond of $75,000 is too high, according Caston's attorney, Richard Sindel. "The purpose of the bond is to ensure (Caston's) appearance in court," Sindel said. "I don't think they need to take every nickel and dime the family can raise in order to do that." The bond hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday at St. Louis County Circuit Court …

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