A high-profile sexual abuse case ended Tuesday morning as the defendant pled to the charge.
Jonathan David Shane Southworth, 30, of Houston, entered an “Alford plea” to statutory sodomy as well as felony possession of a controlled substance while appearing inside Courtroom A of the Texas County Justice Center. Both are Class C felonies with maximum seven-year sentences.
Judge Bill Hickle set sentencing for Jan. 19. Southworth remains free on bond.
Southworth was charged in August 2016 with inappropriately touching a then 14-year-old who was staying the night with a friend inside his home. The day after the arrest, authorities conducting a search warrant inside Southworth’s home at 123 Remington Drive discovered illegal drugs and hypodermic needles with syringes.
Southworth’s plea was entered by Springfield attorney Dee Wampler. Similar to no-contest, an Alford plea allows a criminal defendant to enter a guilty plea without admitting guilt. The defendant does not admit the act, but admits that the prosecution could likely prove the charge at trial.
As part of the plea agreement, Texas County Prosecuting Attorney Parke Stevens Jr. said two additional sexual assault charges against Southworth from two other victims will be dropped. He also said a list of girls who were subpoenaed to testify in the case –– some potentially victims –– will not be pursued.
Related to the drug charge, Stevens said he would not pursue evidence Southworth had potentially sold steroids. A misdemeanor drug charge from the search warrant was also dropped.
Southworth told Hickle he understood the charges against him and was waiving his right to a trial.
According to the Missouri State Technical Assistance Team (STAT), the initial sexual assault occurred June 17, 2016. The victim, who was staying the night with a friend, told authorities she woke to Southworth touching her inappropriately while she was lying alone in bed. The probable cause statement included other sexually-explicit details.
The victim told investigators she was scared and pushed Southworth away, according to court documents. He told the girl, “You never let me do anything,’ and said he would go to jail if she told anyone about the incident. The victim’s friend had left the home for a school-related function when the alleged assault occurred, the probable cause statement said.
Stevens shared the details again in court Tuesday morning.
One day after Southworth’s arrest on the sexual assault charge, STAT –– with assistance from the Division of Drug and Crime Control of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Texas County Sheriff’s Department and Houston Police Department –– executed a search warrant at Southworth’s home. Authorities said they discovered one vial of trenabolone acetate and two vials of boldenone undercylerode –– both anabolic steroids and illegal to possess –– as well as 104 unused hypodermic needles with syringes.
Southworth, who later admitted to authorities the substances were his, was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance and misdemeanor unlawful use of drug paraphernalia. The drugs were found in an iPhone case, Stevens said Tuesday morning.
In March, Southworth was charged with a felony second-degree statutory rape for allegedly having sex with a then 16-year-old girl in 2012. The victim came forward 12 days after the initial sex charge against Southworth.
A third sex charge was levied in May as Southworth was charged with engaging in a sexual relationship with a then 15-year-old girl in 2008.
An Aug. 25 court hearing with 11 girls subpoenaed to testify against Southworth was abruptly cancelled after Wampler announced he was moving forward with a possible plea in the case.