Mt. Vernon’s Morton gets five years for statutory rape

A Mt. Vernon woman received two five-year prison sentences after pleading guilty to having sexual intercourse with two boys under the age of 17. Amanda Morton, 35, was sentenced on Tuesday, May 14, at the Lawrence County Justice Center. Her sentence is the result of a plea deal which called for her to serve her sentences concurrently in exchange for her guilty plea.
According to a probable cause statement filed in the case, in the early morning hours of May 13, 2018, Morton was in the playground of an apartment complex with four juveniles, whom she provided a bottle of vodka.
The probable cause statement stated two of the juveniles, both boys under the age of 17, were interviewed by Child Advocacy Center (CAC) investigators.
One boy said Morton provided alcohol for him and the bottle was passed around until it was empty.
The other boy also said Morton provided them with alcohol. He said Morton had sex with the first boy, and when she was finished, pulled him on top of her and proceeded to have sex with him.
A girl who was also interviewed by CAC investigators said Morton handed the bottle of vodka to one of the boys and said, “Drink away.” She said they all drank from the bottle and then went to the west side of the park to look at the stars. The girl said she saw Morton having intercourse with both boys.
It was not immediately apparent what Morton’s relationship was with the juveniles.
Morton was transferred to the custody of the Missouri Department of Correction on Friday, May 17. She had been held in the Lawrence County Jail since April 9, when she failed to show up for a hearing.