Sawtelle Found Guilty Sexual Assault Case

St. Francois Co., Mo. (KFMO) - After a two day trial last week, a St. Francois County Jury has found 57-year-old Jeffrey Sawtelle guilty of two charges of sexual assault against a minor. St. Francois County Prosecuting Attorney Blake Dudley explained the charges. 

According to court documents, in 2022 the minor female child victim came forward to authorities and report being raped by Sawtelle, her step grandfather, in 2019, when she was 13 years old. Following her initial disclosure to family, the child reported further details to a Park Hills Detective. Within days she was interviewed at the Child Advocacy Center, where she provided a detailed account of the sexual assault.

At trial, the survivor, now 19, described how Sawtelle had entered her bedroom, covered her mouth to muffle her cries for help, and proceeded to rape her. Afterward, as he was leaving, he threatened to kill her if she ever told anyone. Following her initial testimony, the young woman remained unwavering under extensive questioning by Sawtelle’s defense attorney.

Both the survivor’s mother and the Park Hills Detective would later testify as to the course of the disclosures ultimately resulting in the charges.