Dexter man charged with statutory rape gets new judge, fires lawyer

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A 66-year-old Bloomfield man charged in connection with a relationship with a 15-year-old girl will have his case heard by a new judge.

Charlie Glass, arrested in late February, recently filed a motion for a change of judge.

His case will now be heard by Judge John C. Spielman of Dunklin County.

In another surprise move, Glass filed a personal letter with the court terminating his attorney, Bill Burlison.

Thus far, no hearings are scheduled and no new attorney has been listed in connection with the case.

Glass faces charges of the Class C felony of second-degree statutory rape, two counts of the Class B felony of kidnapping and one count of the Class C felony of sexual abuse.

Glass reportedly volunteered information to Bloomfield Police Chief Jason Curtman on Feb. 19, at which time he waived his rights and offered a statement to authorities regarding the charges against him.

In an affidavit taken at that time at the Bloomfield Police Department, Glass admits to having a relationship with a 15-year-old Bloomfield girl but says initially that he knew the girl "only as a friend." Upon further questioning, Glass admitted to recently giving the girl, who will remain unidentified, a small Valentine's Day locket and having taken the girl to an area on Lake Wappapello earlier in February.

Leading to the accusations was a report from the alleged victim's mother, who appeared at the Bloomfield Police station on Feb. 19, stating that her daughter had "been raped" by Glass at Lake Wappapello.

In the statement provided by Glass, he tells police that any and all gifts he provided to the juvenile girl were given "only as a friend" and he denies engaging in any inappropriate behavior with the girl. When told that police had a witness who saw him with a young girl in the area of the lake, Glass denied the claim and told police it was his wife who had accompanied him there. Glass later rescinded that statement.

Glass consistently denies, in his statement to police, having taken part in any "inappropriate" behavior with the alleged victim.