Homeless man accused in Stoddard County molestation case declines plea offer

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A 64-year-old homeless man charged in August with the molestation of a then-7-year-old-girl rejected a plea offer Wednesday and will now face trial.

Nathan Purdom faces three counts of first-degree statutory sodomy stemming from an incident that allegedly took place at a home where he was staying in Dexter, Mo.

Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russell Oliver made an offer of one life sentence in exchange for a guilty plea. Because the offer was not accepted before the imposed deadline, Oliver withdrew the offer in court.

He went on to say that there will be no further plea offers made in the case.

Oliver suggested a hearing concerning the victim's testimony be set, but that date will not be set immediately.

The court went on to schedule a jury trial set for Aug. 1 and 2.

The initial charges were filed against Purdom after the 7-year-old child told her parents of several instances of molestation involving the man who her parents had taken in. At that time, Purdom was ousted from the home and police were notified. He was picked up within a short time following the call close to the home where he had been staying.

Purdom was later charged with two additional counts of sodomy following further investigation by Dexter Police detective Cory Mills. According to the warrant request issued by former prosecuting attorney Briney Welborn, there is probable cause to believe that between June 1 and July 16 Purdom was involved with deviate sexual intercourse with two other local children.

In Mills' probable cause statement filed July 27, Purdom is said to have admitted to additionally sexually molesting two other girls, ages 8 and 9. The two are reportedly relatives of the 7-year-old from whom the original charges stemmed.

Pertinent address:

Dexter, MO

Bloomfield, MO