Dexter man receives 20 year sentence for rape

BLOOMFIELD — A Dexter man recently received a 20-year sentence as a result of being found guilty of first degree rape, second degree statutory rape and possession of child pornography.

Patrick Varner of Dexter entered a guilty plea on all three charges and was sentenced Friday, Oct. 3, to two decades in the Missouri Department of Corrections on for first-degree rape/attempted rape. According to Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Sawyer Smith, he was also sentenced to a concurrent term of seven years for the other two offenses.

The charges stem from a February 2021 arrest. The victim was accompanied by her parents at the Dexter Police Department, where she filed an official report. Officers later executed a search warrant for Varner’s home and collected evidence. The charges were officially filed Feb. 15, 2021. It was reported at the time that Varner and his victim had been acquaintances.

“Justice has been served in Stoddard County,” Smith remarked. “(Varner) is held accountable to each of his crimes in this case and will not only serve a lengthy period behind bars, but will be required to register as a Tier III sex offender for the remainder of his life.”

Smith went on to explain that obtaining the sex offender registration status provides community awareness, protection and prevention of crime.

“We will continue prosecuting these sensitive cases in a steadfast manner,” Smith stated. “Thank you to Dexter Police Department for the investigative work completed here.”