Marionville man convicted of child molestation

Remains free on bond pending sentencing
A Marionville man has been convicted of first-degree child molestation five years after charges were filed. Robert D. Pate, 58, was convicted of the crime following a jury trial on Wednesday, Feb. 27. He was taken into custody and then released, pending his sentencing on May 13, 2019, after posting a $50,000 bond.
According to a probable cause statement filed by the officer who investigated the case, Pate touched the victim, then a girl under the age of 12, on her genitalia approximately six times between November of 2008 and February of 2010 at Pate’s residence in Aurora. The victim told the officer this happened four more times at Pate’s home in Marionville between April of 2011 and September of 2012. The victim also said that in September of 2012, Pate laid on top of her and kissed her on the right side of her neck.
Child molestation is currently a Class A felony in Missouri, but at the time Pate committed the offenses, it was a Class B felony. As such, Pate faces a sentence of five to 15 years in prison when he is sentenced.