Rogersville Man facing two felony counts in Laclede County for sexually assaulting a child

A Rogersville man faces two felonies for sexually assaulting a child in Laclede County. Prosecutors charged 20-year-old Benjamin Blake with fourth-degree child molestation and sexual misconduct involving a child on April 3. According to court documents, police believe Blake assaulted a 14-year-old on at least two occasions in 2018. The victim told both the Springfield Child Advocacy Center and, later, Lebanon police that Blake sexually assaulted her twice during the summer of 2018. The victim said she met Blake at a church rally and started dating soon after. Lebanon police started looking into the case in December 2019 after a referral from Marshfield police. A Lebanon detective interviewed the victim on March 11th. Blake faces rape and sexual misconduct charges involving a different victim in Webster County. He is being held on a $50,000 cash bond in Laclede County. Judge Larry Winfrey denied Blake’s request to reduce that bond Wednesday. He is due back in court April 22nd. Wednesday, Blake pleaded not guilty to those charges