The Quill has been informed by the defense attorney representing a West Plains teen that he has been acquitted of rape and sodomy after a 12-person jury found him not guilty. The trial of Levi Rand, 18, was held April 29 in Howell County, according to court documents.
He was represented by Lacon Marie Smith of Smith Criminal Defense in Springfield.
"An 18-year-old West Plains man’s name was cleared after a jury of 12 people found him not guilty related to accusations made by a West Plains teenager alleging four sex offenses," Smith said in a press release provided to the Quill.
"The state alleged Levi Rand committed two offenses of rape in the first degree and two offenses of sodomy in the first degree against the teen complaining witness. During trial, the defense presented evidence that the complaining witness had given several inconsistent stories about the allegations and that she had motivations to fabricate the allegations against Mr. Rand. The defense alleged that the complaining witness had a school-girl crush on Mr. Rand and was motivated by jealousy of his relationship with his girlfriend," she continued.
"The charges of rape in the first degree and sodomy in the first degree carry a mandatory minimum prison sentence of five years and maximum of life in prison. Missouri law requires that, if found guilty of more than one of these offenses, those sentences are to run consecutively,” Smith concluded. “This means that Mr. Rand was facing a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 20 years in prison and up to four life sentences."
Smith said the jury deliberated for an hour and 14 minutes before finding Rand not guilty on all charges. The state was represented in the case by Howell County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Rizwan Ahad.
