Jury finds Pilkington guilty on nine counts
Tue, 08/20/2024 - 12:40pm
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Former SRO & Sheriff's deputy is found guilty on charges involving sexual activities with a minor.
By:
Nate Hudson, staff writer
Earlier this month, a Butler County jury found former law enforcement officer Rob Ruel Pilkington guilty on nine felony counts involving sexual activity with a minor and not guilty on four counts. He is being held on a half million-dollar bond while he awaits sentencing later this year. The jury trial was held at the Howell County Courthouse from August 7 to 9 and public access to the case online returned on August 12.
The 12-person jury deliberated for four hours and forty-three minutes and found Pilkington guilty on five felony counts of statutory sodomy or attempted statutory sodomy – deviate sexual intercourse – person less than 14 years of age, three felony counts of statutory rape or attempted statutory rape - first degree – person less than 14 years of age, and one felony count of use of a child in a sexual performance – serious emotional injury. The state prosecution requested that Pilkington be held without bond until sentencing. The court set his bond at $500,000 surety only. A sentencing hearing has been set for November 7, 2024.
As previously reported by Howell County News, Pilkington, a former Howell County Sheriff's deputy and school resource officer for South Fork Elementary, was initially arrested on Thanksgiving in November 2021 on statutory rape charges involving a teenage girl. The initial case was transferred to Butler County in May 2022 and dismissed shortly after. Following the results of a June 10, 2022, forensic interview with the same victim, prosecutors proceeded with the current charges.
The victim was noted as not being a student at the school that Pilkington worked at, according to a press release from the West Plains School District following his initial arrest. The investigation into the suspect began with the Sheriff's Office and was handed over to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Howell County News began covering this story on November 26, 2021. For in-depth coverage, see www.howellcountynews.com. Relevant back issues of the print edition may also be purchased from the news office or ordered by phone at 417-252-2123.