A Tipton, Missouri man has been found guilty at trial in the rape and sodomy of a six-year-old.
A Greene County jury found Shawn Kelly Martin, 42, guilty on all charges related to the rape of a six-year-old child. The jury deliberated for three hours before returning guilty verdicts on one county of statutory rape in the first degree and four counts of statutory sodomy in the first degree.
Martin told investigators that he would be able to get away with the repeated sexual abuse of the child because the child’s step-father was also sexually abusing her.
Martin was a prior sex offender after a 2003 conviction in Stone County for statutory sodomy in the second degree.
Martin will be sentenced by Judge David Jones in September. Martin could be sentenced up to 30 years on the charges or he could receive a life sentence. Under Missouri law, the sentences cannot run concurrently, meaning that Martin will likely spend the rest of his life in prison even if not formally sentenced to a life term.
“Successful prosecution of both sexual and physical child abuse requires citizens to report any suspected child abuse,” Prosecuting Attorney Dan Patterson said in a statement. “Reporting child abuse is everyone’s responsibility. If you suspect child abuse or neglect, please call the Missouri Child Abuse & Neglect Hotline at 1-800-392-3738.”