Investigation by Pettis County Deputies Leads to Arrest of La Monte Man for Molestation

Late on the night of March 27th, Pettis County Deputies responded to the 300 block of South Walnut Street in La Monte, in order to locate a subject with a warrant for his arrest.

The warrant was issued after an investigation that began in January 2024.

Deputies received a call on January 24th about a possible case of child molestation involving the suspect. The reporting party stated their ten-year-old child had disclosed that the suspect had touched her vagina with his hand, under her clothing while everyone else in the house was asleep.

The child stated this happened about four to five years ago. The next day (January 25th), another family member came forward. They reported another child had been molested between June of 2022 and December of 2022.

This child, who was seven years old at the time, stated the suspect had touched her vagina, under her clothing, with his hand in their backyard. When the Mother saw the suspect had stepped out of view in the backyard, she went to go check on them and immediately took the child inside. The suspect stated he had been touching her belly button.

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Deputies located the suspect, James Michael Loveall, 30, of La Monte, was placed under arrest for two counts of felony Child Molestation in the 1st Degree. Loveall was transported to the Pettis County Jail to be booked in pending a cash or surety bond of $250,000.

Loveall is listed as a non-compliant Tier III sex offender* due to a 2013 conviction for a charge of Incest.