5 years, 7 months ago by Scott Hardy
Robert Branch may enter a plea next month
Probable cause has been found against a Hannibal man on four out of six child-sex counts he faces in Marion County.
That ruling against Robert Branch was handed down Monday during a preliminary hearing in Marion County Associate Court. Branch was first charged in August with four counts of statutory sodomy, after a female victim spoke with authorities in July. A fifth count of sexual misconduct filed against Branch was dropped, and he now faces three counts of statutory sodomy and one count of child molestation. He's set to enter a plea on those charges October 5th. Branch is alleged to have had sexual contact with the victim in Hannibal during annual family visits during the 4th of July holiday between 2008 and 2013. In all, the second victim has told authorities about 14 different incidents involving Branch. He's also facing two counts of Child Molestation after his original arrest in June. Branch is accused of molesting a different girl in his camper outside Palmyra, and will enter a plea on those charges October 9th.
He's in the Monroe County Jail on $210,000 cash-only bond.
