Perryville man arrested for alleged patronizing prostitution, harassment

Perryville, Missouri, police arrested a man Tuesday on charges he tried to convince juvenile victims to get into his vehicle to engage in sexual activity.

The Perry County, Missouri, prosecuting attorney’s office charged Raymond L. Bohnert, 25, of Perryville with three counts of felony harassment, four counts of felony attempted kidnapping, misdemeanor patronizing prostitution and misdemeanor harassment.

The police investigation began March 23 when Bohnert propositioned a 17-year-old male for oral sex on Facebook messenger, according to a probable-cause statement filed by officer Alex Friedrich.

The victim said Bohnert had been harassing him through phone calls and Facebook over the past year, and the victim provided 27 Facebook messages from Jan. 4 through March 23, Friedrich wrote.

Those messages included requests for oral sex, offering the victim $20 for sexual favors and offering to perform oral sex on the victim, according to the statement.

Bohnert said in one message the victim could do whatever he wanted to Bohnert if he allowed Bohnert to cut his hair, Friedrich wrote.

When police interviewed Bonhert on March 22, he made conflicting statements, including a claim the victim offered him $20 for sex, Friedrich wrote. In an interview Tuesday, Bohnert said he offered the victim $20 for sex, according to the statement.

On June 22, Bohnert approached 15- and 16-year-old male victims in his gray Nissan Versa while they were walking on Spring Street, according to a separate probable-cause statement filed by Friedrich.

Bohnert asked if they wanted a ride and then asked if they wanted to participate in a charity event at Perryville Park Center where they would donate a dollar for a “pie in the face or shave our head,” Friedrich wrote.

Bohnert drove away quickly when one victim pulled up a phone, according to the statement.

The victims went to Perryville Park Center and confirmed there was no charity event scheduled that day, Friedrich wrote.

On June 28, a 10-year-old female victim said Bohnert pulled alongside of her in his gray Versa while she was riding her bicycle on Robb Street, Friedrich wrote in another probable-cause statement.

Bohnert told the victim her mother wanted him to come get her, according to the statement.

The victim got scared and rode her bike home just a few houses away, Friedrich wrote.

Friedrich noted this incident occurred about three blocks from where the 15- and 16-year-old male victims were asked about a ride.

This incident was publicized by Perryville police June 28, and the victim had described a gray vehicle with pink, black and white polka dots in a rear window, according to a news release from Cpl. Jeri Cain.

On Aug. 13, an 18-year-old male victim was approached by Bohnert, who was driving his gray Versa on Chloe Street, according to another probable-cause statement from Friedrich.

Bohnert asked the victim to go to a charity event at Legion Lake, begging him to get in his vehicle, Friedrich wrote.

Later, the victim received a phone call from Bohnert, asking him to go to Legion Lake, according to the statement.

The victim went to police after Bonhert called from a blocked number six times Sunday, Friedrich wrote.

The victim set up a meeting with Bohnert on Aug. 14 at Legion Lake, where a police officer met Bohnert instead after the victim told Bohnert he wanted a haircut, according to the statement.

Bohnert told the officer he planned to meet the victim and give him a haircut, even though Bohnert did not have any hair-cutting equipment, according to the statement.

During the Tuesday interview, Bohnert said he understood how his behavior could be perceived as harassment, Friedrich wrote.

bkleine@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3644

Pertinent address:

2656 N. Highway 51, Perryville, Mo.