Hunter W. Bagley

A Benton County man accused of sodomizing a minor girl five years ago is found guilty of two of the three charges against him.

Hunter Bagley, 25, of Warsaw, was arrested earlier this year after a victim came forward, claiming Bagley had sexually assaulted her during the summer of 2019.  The victim, who was 16 at the time of the assault, told investigators that she was convinced by coworkers to stay silent but had recently been encouraged by friends to speak up.

The victim and her cousin met Bagley on Drake Harbor Trail.  They’d planned to go to Bagley’s house to watch television, but the cousin decided not to go.  The victim says that when they left the trail, Bagley, who was 20, drove her to his old apartment in Sedalia, where he forced her to perform sex acts. 

A bench trial was held Thursday.  Bagley was found guilty of second-degree sodomy and first-degree sexual misconduct.  However, the judge overseeing the trial found Bagley not guilty of one count of first-degree sodomy.  The judge ruled the State had failed to prove that the victim was incapable of giving consent. 

A hearing to set Bagley’s sentencing date is scheduled for November 4.