Dennis Palmer

     Sheriff Scott Keeler said during the morning hours of March 19, Dennis Palmer, 66, rural Lowry City, was arrested in Fort Lauderdale, Fl. Palmer is wanted on a St. Clair County warrant charging him with seven felony sex crimes involving a child.

     The sheriff said Palmer will be extradited back to Missouri as soon as possible to face the charges.

     Palmer is charged with class B felony child molestation-first degree, an unclassified felony charge of attempted statutory rape-first degree, three unclassified felony charges of statutory sodomy-first degree-deviate sexual intercourse with a person less than 14-years-old, an unclassified felony charge of enticement of a child (actor is 21-years of age or older and child is less than 15-years-old), and a class C felony charge of sexual misconduct or attempt involving a child under 15-years-old second and subsequent offense.

     The charges stem from an investigation that started in August 2014 after a hotline call to Missouri Department of Social Services Children’s Division was made concerning several alleged incidents that occurred between December 2012 and June 2013 when a child was staying at Palmer’s residence. The Missouri State Technical Assistance Team and the Clinton Police Department assisted the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office with the investigation.

     In September 2015 Palmer was out of jail on bond and cut off his court ordered electronic GPS ankle bracelet.