LAFAYETTE COUNTY, Mo – A Higginsville man was arrested on Tuesday, August 2, 2016 for multiple charges out of Lafayette County.
According to Court records and a probable cause statement 42 year-old Harold L. VanEaton II allegedly sexually assaulted and raped his underage niece Tuesday morning within her home. The girl was eventually able to get away from her uncle, alerting her parents to the situation.The probable cause statement alleges that he also confessed to stealing a John Deere tractor to flee the area in fear of going to jail.
VanEaton’s formal charges include 1st degree sodomy, 1st degree rape or attempted rape, 2nd degree statutory sodomy, and incest. A warrant was issued over the charges for a $25,000 cash only bond. The probable cause statement alleges that VanEaton confessed to the allegations in an interview with police, but court records show he entered a plea of ‘Not guilty’ during his initial arraignment held Wednesday, August 3, 2016.
VanEaton has prior convictions including theft, assault, and drug charges dated in 2016. VanEaton’s hearing is set for August 24, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. in Lafayette County.