Jury finds 33-year-old St. Joseph man guilty of raping child, sodomy

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- A 33-year-old St. Joseph man could serve life in prison after being found guilty by a jury of multiple child sex crimes, including rape of a child.

A three-day trial in Buchanan County ended Thursday with jurors finding 33-year-old Jonathan Edward Sears guilty on six felony counts, including one count of 1st degree rape, three counts of 1st degree sodomy and two counts of 2nd degree child molestation for crimes that occurred between January of 2022 and February 2023.

Sears has been denied bond is now scheduled for sentencing at 2 p.m. on Feb. 2 at the Buchanan County Courthouse. The St. Joseph resident could spend life prison with four of the six counts each carrying the maximum life sentence.

Courts documents indicate Sears committed the crimes against a child less than 12 years old.

Sears was initially arrested in March 2023 on a warrant for charges in the case and was denied bond after pleading not guilty to charges that included deviate sexual intercourse with a child.

Prior to the ruling, the case was suspended for more than three months for a mental evaluation after questions were raised by Sear's court-appointed attorney about his competency to stand trial.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant Prosecuting Attorney's Monica Morrey and Kristina Zeit.