Police have accused a Marble Hill, Missouri, man of grooming a 4-year-old for sex.

Timmy Ray James, 56, was charged with felony sexual misconduct with a child by indecent exposure. James was arrested Tuesday by the Bollinger County Sheriff's Department.

Beacon Health Center contacted Bollinger County deputies Dec. 23 to report the victim's mother was arranging an interview to determine whether anything inappropriate had happened with James, according to a probable-cause statement by detective Della Moore of the sheriff's department.

During an interview Dec. 28 at Beacon Health Center, the victim did not disclose any information about sexual activity, Moore wrote.

The child told the mother he had touched James' genitals twice, Moore wrote.

Moore interviewed James on Sunday, advising him of his Miranda rights. During that interview, James admitted to being naked in the presence of the juvenile multiple times, Moore wrote.

Moore noted James did not deny the allegation the victim touched his genitals but said he did not remember that happening, and he would have remembered.

James eventually admitted to Moore the victim touched his genitals, Moore wrote.

"Throughout the course of the interview I observed, in my training and experience, James to confess to what is commonly known as grooming," Moore wrote.

bkleine@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3644

Pertinent address:

105 Myers St., Marble Hill, Mo.