By Marlana Smith and Echo Menges
A Kirksville woman has been arrested for allegedly molesting and helping her husband molest a child in Shelby County.
Sara Dodd
Sara Dodd, 33, is accused of holding the mouth of a child closed so the child could not yell or scream while her husband, Joshua Dodd, 28, of Shelbina, allegedly sexually assaulted the child. The crimes are alleged to have taken place between October of 2019 and September of 2020, according to court documents.
The criminal charges were filed against Sara Dodd by Shelby County Prosecutor Jordan Force on Monday, September 13, 2021.
Sara Dodd was taken into custody the same day at 8:38 p.m.
She is charged with child molestation – first degree, a Class A felony, and statutory rape or attempted statutory rape – first degree – of a person less than 12 years old, an unclassified felony, in case No. 21SB-CR00149.
Her husband, Joshua Dodd, was arrested on January 28, 2021, for child molestation – first degree, a Class A felony, and statutory rape or attempted statutory rape – first degree – person less than 12 years old, an unclassified felony, in case No. 21SB-CR00013-01.
Joshua Dodd has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. A jury trial is scheduled for December 7, at 8:30 a.m. in front of Shelby County Circuit Judge Fredrick Tucker. He is being represented by Public Defender Todd Schulze.
At the time of this report, a court date for Sara Dodd had not been set.
Joshua Dodd and Sara Dodd are each being held on $50,000 cash only bonds at the Shelby County Jail.
The information used in this story was obtained from court documents filed in the cases against the defendants, which is one sided. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
