Man arrested on charges of statutory rape, sodomy

A 19-year-old Cape Girardeau man was in custody Tuesday evening on charges of statutory rape and sodomy of a 12-year-old girl.

Levon D. Nunley of 807 Ranney Ave. was charged with a single count each of statutory rape and statutory sodomy. If convicted, he faces a possible life sentence.

The girl told investigators she had consensual sex with Nunley on July 19 when she and a brother were in the home of her grandfather while her mother worked an overnight shift, according to a sworn affidavit from Cape Girardeau police detective Darren Estes filed with the charges. On that night, Estes wrote, the girl said she received a call from Nunley asking if he could come over to visit. The girl made the statements during an interview at the offices of the Network Against Sexual Violence.

She said she let Nunley into the home through the back door. Her grandfather was in his bedroom asleep with a television and fan running.

Before going to police, the mother took the girl to speak with Nunley and his mother. Nunley denied having sexual contact with the girl.

Nunley came to the police station voluntarily and asked to speak with Estes, the detective wrote, but then refused to talk.

After placing Nunley under arrest, "he asked me when we could talk again. He stated that he wanted to tell me his side of the story, but his mother told him not to speak to me or provide any DNA sample," Estes wrote.

Nunley is being held on a $30,000 cash-only bond. If he posts bond, he has been ordered to have no contact with the girl and to stay at least 1,000 feet away from her residence.