32-year-old man facing three counts of sodomy involving 6-year-old girl

A 32-year-old Whitewater man was arrested Wednesday on suspicion that he raped a 6-year-old girl on numerous occasions between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31.

Dale Wayne Gooch, 6260 State Highway U, faces three felony counts of first-degree statutory sodomy.

The arrest comes on the heels of a Tuesday morning visit by Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department detective James Malugen to the Saint Francis Medical Center emergency room, where a 6-year-old girl told health care personnel she had been raped by Gooch. The victim was explicit in her description of the rape, according to Malugen's statement.

Another interview with the victim was conducted later in the day at the Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence.

Gooch was interviewed later in the day at the sheriff's department, where he admitted to having sexual contact with the girl, according to the police report.

Gooch's computer was taken from his home as part of the investigation. Police reports say people familiar with Gooch have said he's been caught in the past with child pornography on his computer but did not state if the pornography had been reported to police. Gooch has no convictions of prior sex offenses in Missouri.

Each statutory rape count carries with it a maximum punishment of life in prison and a minimum of 10 years since the victim is younger than 12.

Gooch is set to be arraigned at 11 a.m. today before Judge Gary Kamp. His bond is $250,000 with special conditions that he have no contact with the victim and stay at least 500 feet away from her residence.

msanders@semissourian.com

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