MORGAN COUNTY, MO -- Update: Wednesday, Dec. 29 at 6:15 p.m.:
Further investigation into a woman’s age led prosecutors to drop a felony rape charge against mid-Missouri pastor, Travis Smith.
KRCG spoke with the woman’s attorney Wednesday. David Langston said his client testified under oath that she turned 17 a couple weeks before she and Smith had sex. In Missouri, 17 year olds are not minors.
The initial report said she was 15 at the time.
The woman said she never told anyone their sexual relationship began at that age, and even said she wasn’t affiliated with Smith’s church at the time, and didn’t know who he was.
Original Story:
Prosecutors dropped a felony rape charge against a mid-Missouri pastor.
Travis Smith had faced two charges in separate cases. You can read more about the accusations in those cases here.
He still faces a misdemeanor 2nd degree child molestation charge.
However, prosecutors in Morgan County dropped the 2nd degree felony statutory rape charge. KRCG contacted the prosecutor’s office to get more information on why the charge was dropped. They have yet to get back with us.
The charge came after a woman, who is now of legal age, accused Smith of having a sexual relationship with her starting when she was 15 years old.
Smith, who’s a pastor in Stover, appeared in a Morgan County courtroom Thursday morning. He’s seeking a change of venue. A judge will review the request and take a look at the case as a whole on March 24. The judge may set a trial date at that time.
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