Kloeppel Found Guilty of Statutory Sodomy

St. Francois Co., Mo. (KFMO) - After a two day trial, a St. Francois County Jury has found 57-year-old Lawrence Kloeppel guilty of Statutory Sodomy in the First Degree.

According to the St. Francois County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, Kloeppel faced charges following a 2020 disclosure by the then 7-year-old female victim describing a series of sexual assaults committed by Kloeppel in the home of the child’s adult relative.

At trial, the child, now 12-years-old, took the stand in open court and testified before the 12 jurors and Kloeppel. The State followed by playing the recorded interview of the child conducted at the Child Advocacy Center, supported by the expert testimony of Forensic Interviewer, Samantha Harris. The court permitted the State to complete its evidence by submitting proof of Kloeppel’s prior misdemeanor convictions for sexual abuse second degree in 1989 and sexual misconduct second degree in 2017 from Butler County.

The jury deliberated for just 20 minutes Tuesday, before reaching its verdict of Guilty.