Cape man charged with multiple counts of statutory rape, sodomy

A 27-year-old Cape Girardeau man faces eight felony charges after having sex with a minor on several occasions, police said.

The Cape Girardeau Prosecuting Attorney's Office on Friday charged Phillip P. Keller with four counts of statutory rape and four counts of statutory sodomy.

The 16-year-old alleged victim told investigators she and Keller talked and shared photos on social media before agreeing to meet in person Jan. 22, according to a probable-cause statement filed in the case by detective Jaime Holloway with the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department.

The victim said Keller picked her up from her residence in Jackson, took her to a nearby field where they engaged in sex acts on four occasions, Holloway wrote.

In online messages, Keller told the victim not to tell anyone about their relationship, saying, "being a registered sex offender is worse than [being] convicted of manslaughter," according to the statement. A photo of Keller and the victim engaged in sex acts also was included in their online correspondence, Holloway wrote.

On March 13, Keller told investigators he knew the victim, knew her to be underage and admitted to picking her up from her residence where she lived with her parents but denied he'd had sex with the victim, Holloway wrote.

John Volkerding, investigator with the Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, also filed a probable-cause statement in the case that contained information similar to what Holloway wrote.

Keller's bond was set at $25,000 with the conditions he not have any contact with the victim, stay at least 500 feet away from her residence and employer and he not be alone with any female younger than 18.

tgraef@semissourian.com

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