Federal Charges Filed Against Larson

Federal criminal charges have now been filed in the case of rural Altamont resident Steven Larson.

Multiple charges have been filed in US District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. The charges stem from the 60-year-old Larson and a 13-year-old girl from the Altamont area traveling to Missouri at the end of January.

The federal charges allege that Larson took the girl from Illinois to Missouri for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity. The charges include two counts of statutory rape in the first degree, two counts of statutory sodomy in the first degree, one count of child molestation in the first degree, one count of child molestation in the second degree, and one count of sexual misconduct involving a child.

The intentional transport of the girl across state lines is where the case falls under Federal jurisdiction. Larson is due in court in Cape Girardeau, Missouri on Wednesday where it will be determined whether he'll remain in custody until his trial on the federal counts.

In the meantime, Effingham County State's Attorney Bryan Kibler said that the circuit court charges filed in both Illinois and Missouri are still on the books, along with the bonds set on those charges, so Larson would remain in custody even if he is not held over until trial by Federal authorities.

Larson is charged in Effingham County with indecent solicitation of a child, unlawful restraint and obstructing justice as well as two counts of kidnapping. Circuit court charges facing Larson in Missouri include child kidnapping, statutory rape in the first degree, and child molestation in the first degree.