FRANKLIN COUNTY, Mo. — A Franklin County man on Wednesday was convicted on seven counts connected to the sexual abuse of an 8-year-old girl in 2018.
Brett Pendleton was convicted of five counts of first-degree statutory sodomy and one count each of first-degree statutory rape, attempt to commit statutory sodomy and child molestation. He was also convicted on two counts of delivering a controlled substance to a minor.
Pendleton faces a minimum of 98 years in prison, according to a release from the office of Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey.
A grand jury indicted Pendleton in 2018. Prosecutors said on Jan. 1, 2018, he took an 8-year-old girl to a motel room, forced her to smoke marijuana and ingest meth, and sexually abused her for hours.
A family member found the girl at the motel and took her to the hospital to report the abuse. The victim received medical treatment for several injuries caused by the abuse.
Washington police found evidence that would later corroborate the victim's account of what happened, Bailey's office said.
Pendleton's sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 1.
