West Plains, MO. – Texas County prosecutors have dropped charges held against a former Cabool resident in a sexual assault case.
Ronald Stevens was charged with 1st and 2nd-degree rape, 1st and 2nd-degree sodomy, 1st and 2nd-degree burglary, and 1st and 2nd-degree trespass. In early August, a mistrial was declared following a hung jury in Pulaski County. Eleven of the twelve jurors were saying not guilty on all charges, with the last juror saying guilty.
Stevens’ accuser had said Stevens had entered her home without permission in December of 2021 and the two had non-consensual sex. Stevens had told investigators that it had been consensual. During the August trial, the jury heard from three witnesses for the defense who stated the pair had a flirtatious relationship.
Stevens was represented by Lacon Marie Smith of Smith Criminal Defense in Springfield, Missouri.
