Ozark’s Bekemeier accused of rape, child endangerment, currently behind bars

Ozark man allegedly used melatonin gummies, alcohol to render victim unconscious during crime
 
An Ozark man is accused to raping a teenage girl in Mt. Vernon after allegedly giving her and three other juveniles melatonin gummies and alcohol. Jordan Bekemeier, 26, is charged with two counts of First-Degree Felony Rape, four counts of Tampering with a Victim in a Felony Prosecution, one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child and one count of Unlawful Use of a Weapon.
According to the probable cause statement in the case, on June 4, Bekemeier was watching over the four while their parents were out of town. In a Child Advocacy Center interview, the victim, identified as a girl under the age of 18, said that Bekemeier had her drink a Mike’s Hard Lemonade, after which he gave her the melatonin gummies and had her drink more alcohol, causing her to pass out on the couch.
The girl said she awoke briefly and saw Bekemeier getting undressed, but then passed out again. She said she awoke again to see Bekemeier “getting up off of her,” and feeling a sharp pain.
The next day, the girl said, she was kissing Bekemeier’s neck, and then he was “coming onto her.” She said Bekemeier then took off his clothes and then removed her pants and undergarments and proceeded to rape her. The girl said it hurt, she didn’t like it and she asked Bekemeier to stop, but he wouldn’t.
The girl told the interviewer that while the alleged assault was happening, she felt a sharp pain and her stomach hurt. After it was over, she said, Bekemeier got dressed and left the room; when he was gone, she started crying. A doctor who examined the girl reported that she had injuries consistent with non-consensual sex.
The other three juveniles in the house reported that Bekemeier forced them to drink alcohol and eat THC gummies; they said he told them that he would pepper spray them if they wouldn’t drink and would shoot them if they told anyone. One juvenile said Bekemeier pointed a gun at him and pulled the trigger, but it didn’t fire. Another one said Bekemeier had a “cop belt” that held a gun, handcuffs, pepper spray and possibly a flashlight; the boy also said Bekemeier told him that he was in the police academy.
Bekemeier was booked in the Lawrence County Jail on Monday, Aug. 23. He appeared in court via video for a bond hearing; bond was denied. He is next scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, Sept. 16, for a preliminary hearing.
As of presstime, Bekemeier continued to be held in the Lawrence County Jail.