Mountain Grove man arrested for three counts of statutory sodomy

 The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control announced last week the arrest of John R. Reed, 61, of Mountain Grove. Reed was arrested on June 3 for three counts of statutory sodomy following an investigation by members of the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control Troops D and G criminal investigations units.

In March 2024, investigators with the Troops D and G criminal investigations units began an investigation into child molestation reported to have first occurred approximately 25 years ago in Ozark County. 

The suspect, John R. Reed, was alleged to have sexually molested three victims in two different residences, both located in Ozark County. Investigators conducted multiple interviews which corroborated victims’ accounts of the incidents. On June 3, Reed was arrested and transported to the Ozark County Jail, where he was held pending the filing of formal charges. On June 4, the Ozark County Prosecuting Attorney formally charged Reed with three counts of first-degree statutory sodomy. Reed is currently being held in the Ozark County Jail, without bond.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol asks that anyone with information about this investigation please contact Corporal Evan Tyrrell at 417-469-3121 or Corporal Justin Peabody at 417-895-6868.

The above charges are mere accusation and are not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of these charges must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.