July 9, 2013

By Katherine Fallon

Deputies arrested Audrain County, Mo. resident Dennis L. Hatten, 58, on suspicions of the rape and sodomizing a seven year-old girl.

Boone County Sheriff’s Department issued a warrant for Hatten’s arrest, charging him with one count of statutory rape first degree, two counts of statutory sodomy first degree and one count of child molestation first degree. Audrain County sheriff’s deputies arrested Hatten on the Boone County warrant Thursday.

A family member of the victim alerted the Boone County Sheriff’s Department of the offences after the victim told the relative of the assaults. Deputies believe Hutton committed the assaults over a six-month period at the victim’s home on Union Church Road in the Centralia area, according to a BCSD news release.

“The victim and the suspect were known to each other,” Detective Tom O’Sullivan, said. “This is not a case of a stranger coming along and committing this crime.”

However, it is still unclear what relationship the victim and Hatten had with each other, O’Sullivan said.

Hatten faced charges of sexual misconduct or attempt involving a child under 15 in 2008. He pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to four years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. Hatten’s sentence was later communicated down to jail time and two years of probation. Hutton was also required to register as a sex offender, according to Missouri Case Net..

The 2008 conviction of child molestation and this arrest are not related, O’Sullivan said.

Hatten is currently being held in the Boone County Jail with a $160,000 bond. If Hatten is convicted, he could face up to a life sentence in jail, O’Sullivan said.