Cape woman admits she had sexual contact with teen-age boy

JACKSON, Mo. -- A Cape Girardeau woman admitted Tuesday that she had sexual contact with a 14-year-old boy last December.

In exchange for a guilty plea, prosecutors reduced a felony charge against Pamela L. Recker and replaced it with misdemeanor child molestation.

Appearing before Associate Circuit Court Judge Scott Thompsen, Recker, 43, admitted she had sexual contact with someone under the age of 17.

Originally charged with a class C felony of statutory sodomy, Recker was accused of performing a sexual act on the teen-age boy. That charged carried a possible maximum sentence of seven years in prison and fines of up to $5,000.

With a class A misdemeanor conviction instead, Recker faces a possible sentence between 1 day and a year in county jail and up to $1,000 in fines. Even with the reduced charge, Recker will be required to register as a convicted sex offender.

Assistant prosecuting attorney Lora Cooper said one of the reasons behind the plea agreement was to spare Recker's teen-age victim from having to take the stand.

"It's very stressful for any victim to have to testify," Cooper said. "It's especially hard on a child victim."

Recker's sentencing is set for April 23. Her attorney is Stephen C. Wilson.