Statutory rape charge filed after teen gives birth

By NewsPress Now

A St. Joseph man is charged with first-degree statutory rape in a case involving a teen relative prosecutors say gave birth to his child this summer.

Ronald Heffley, 42, will appear at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, in front of Associate Circuit Judge Chad Gaddie to face the charge.

A probable cause statement filed in the case said the victim, then 14, gave birth to a child with an unknown father in July. This week, St. Joseph police received a call from staff at Children’s Mercy Hospital stating that genetic testing results show the baby’s father is related to its mother. Medical officials also added that birth defects the baby has are common in infants whose parents are closely related, the court documents said.

Detectives also noted in the probable cause statement that both Heffley and the victim had each other’s photo as their cell phone wallpaper.

Heffley is being held without bond at the Buchanan County Jail.