Pike County Circuit Court
BOWLING GREEN, Mo. — A Pike County jury recommended a sentence of 212 years plus a life sentence of imprisonment for Hannibal man who was found guilty Tuesday of multiple sexual crimes involving a child. Gary H. Smith Jr. was found guilty of four counts of statutory sodomy in the first degree, two counts of…
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PITTSFIELD, Ill. — Jessica Fuller, a child welfare specialist for Chaddock Foster and Adoption, testified during the Austin Rodhouse sentencing hearing on Wednesday afternoon in Pike County Circuit Court that she was with Rodhouse’s two sons when they saw their mother on May 24, 2024, for the first time since she had been hospitalized on…
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QUINCY — Pike County Assistant State’s Attorney Leecia Carnes said after an eight-woman, four-man jury found Austin Rodhouse guilty of 19 felony charges in November that she likely would not charge his wife with abuse crimes — but she left it as a possibility. “Having seen what she’s been put through all these years —…
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PITTSFIELD, Ill. — Two more women testified Thursday morning about Austin Rodhouse’s sexual encounters and the physical and emotional abuse heaped upon his wife during the eighth day of his trial in Pike County Circuit Court. In all, eight women who were either allegedly assaulted by Rodhouse or were in the family home in Pleasant…
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WARNING: This story includes descriptions of explicit violence and graphic sexual content that may be considered profane, vulgar or offensive to some readers. Reader discretion is advised. PITTSFIELD, Ill. — The state rested, the defense offered no witnesses, closing statements will begin Friday morning and the jury is expected to begin deliberations on Friday afternoon…
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WARNING: This story includes descriptions of explicit violence and graphic sexual content that may be considered profane, vulgar or offensive to some readers. Reader discretion is advised. PITTSFIELD, Ill. — The father of Austin Rodhouse’s wife explained the frustration of not being able to help his daughter and grandsons, fearing for their safety as they…
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PITTSFIELD, Ill. — When Austin Rodhouse’s wife confirmed during testimony Wednesday morning that she performed and recorded an oral sex act with her oldest son while her husband was working in Utah, defense attorney Casey Schnack said, “You knew it was wrong.” “I did it because I was threatened and manipulated,” Rodhouse’s wife replied. That…
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WARNING: This story includes descriptions of explicit violence and graphic sexual content that may be considered profane, vulgar or offensive to some readers. Reader discretion is advised. PITTSFIELD, Ill. — People in the courtroom for each day of the Austin Rodhouse trial knew the video eventually would be played. Judge Charles H.W. Burch warned everybody…
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Messages found on Rodhouses' phones show discussions about sex with son, submissions and punishments
WARNING: This story includes descriptions of explicit violence and graphic sexual content that may be considered profane, vulgar or offensive to some readers. Reader discretion is advised. PITTSFIELD, Ill. — An eight-woman, four-man jury listened Friday afternoon to 3½ hours of text and Snapchat messages discovered on the cellphones of Austin Rodhouse and his wife…
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WARNING: This story includes descriptions of explicit violence and graphic sexual content that may be considered profane, vulgar or offensive to some readers. Reader discretion is advised. PITTSFIELD, Ill. — Another woman testified Friday morning during the Austin Rodhouse trial about how he gave her “Austin massages” when she was a child. However, this woman…
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WARNING: This story includes descriptions of explicit violence and graphic sexual content that may be considered profane, vulgar or offensive to some readers. Reader discretion is advised. PITTSFIELD, Ill. — She cried when she walked past her son when she entered a courtroom in the Pike County Courthouse on Friday morning. She cried again as…
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WARNING: This story includes descriptions of explicit violence and graphic sexual content that may be considered profane, vulgar or offensive to some readers. Reader discretion is advised. PITTSFIELD, Ill. — Much of the first two days of testimony in the Austin Rodhouse trial in Pike County Circuit Court has centered around his wife and their…
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WARNING: This story includes descriptions of explicit violence and graphic sexual content that may be considered profane, vulgar or offensive to some readers. Reader discretion is advised. PITTSFIELD, Ill. — Five more people testified on behalf of the state on Wednesday during the third day of the Austin Rodhouse trial in Pike County Circuit Court,…
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WARNING: This story includes descriptions of explicit violence and graphic sexual content that may be considered profane, vulgar or offensive to some readers. Reader discretion is advised. PITTSFIELD, Ill. — Some simply couldn’t watch, while others looked at the ground. Some took deep breaths, and others held their breath. Several members of the eight-woman, four-man…
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WARNING: This story includes descriptions of explicit violence and graphic sexual content that may be considered profane, vulgar or offensive to some readers. Reader discretion is advised. PITTSFIELD, Ill. — Jordan Gerard, a former trooper with the Illinois State Police, remembered the look on the face of Austin Rodhouse’s wife when he first spoke with…
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WARNING: This story includes descriptions of explicit violence and graphic sexual content that may be considered profane, vulgar or offensive to some readers. Reader discretion is advised. PITTSFIELD, Ill. — “Make yourself a bowl of dog food. You’ll eat it on the floor like an obedient bitch.” Assistant State’s Attorney Leecia Carnes didn’t mess around…
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PITTSFIELD, Ill. — A Kansas man pled guilty on Friday to seven charges of child pornography and indecent solicitation of a child in Pike County and will spend 25 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Justin Lee Howard Richards-Olby, 22, of Wellington, Kan., appeared with Public Defender Rick Zimmerman in Pike County Circuit Court…
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PITTSFIELD, Ill. — A Pleasant Hill man charged with 48 domestic violence and sex-related offenses was arraigned Tuesday morning, and his request for pretrial release was denied. Austin L. Rodhouse, 30, appeared in Pike County Circuit Court with his attorney Drew Schnack before Circuit Judge Frank McCartney and pled not guilty to each charge. Schnack…
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PITTSFIELD, Ill. — A Hull man was sentenced to six years in the Illinois Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to a charge of being a child sex offender in a school zone. Roy Irick, 70, and his attorney, Rick Zimmerman, were in Pike County Circuit Court when he was sentenced by Judge Frank McCartney…
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PITTSFIELD, Ill. – John E. Resor of Quincy was sentenced Wednesday in Pike County Circuit Court to 14 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for an aggravated domestic battery committed on March 19 in Barry. Judge Charles H.W. Burch also sentenced Resor to concurrent 10-year sentences on two counts of aggravated battery. Resor must…
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