Perryville man charged with child molestation in Cape Girardeau County

Damien McAlister

The Cape Girardeau Prosecuting Attorney’s Office filed charges of fourth-degree child molestation against Damien S. McAlister, 27, of Perryville after police say he inappropriately touched a child in her bed.

The accusation, which is alleged to have taken place in May but was reported to authorities in Cape Girardeau County on June 7, was reported by the child, who told investigators McAlister made advances toward the victim three weeks before the touching and after she saw a cellphone slide under a bathroom door at a house in which the victim was staying at the time. The victim told police McAlister wanted her to “get on top of” him.

McAlister is in the Cape Girardeau County jail in lieu of a $50,000 cash bond issued by Judge Frank Miller. On Thursday, June 27, McAlister appeared before the judge and waived his reading of charges.

In 2023, McCalister was convicted on charges of fourth-degree assault of a special victim when he is alleged to have tried to grab and pull officers to the ground during their response to a report of a domestic assault in progress at an emergency room. At the time, McAlister was accused of assaulting a woman who was trying to take McAlister to the hospital during a potential overdose. He also is alleged to have kicked a nurse while she was trying to provide treatment.