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Scott County Sheriff's Office
Wednesday January 27th, 2016 :: 04:22 p.m. CST

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An update to this message has been issued.

Rick Walter reports a Benton couple arrested for Poss. of Child Pornography & Unlawful Poss. of a Firearm Charges.

BENTON, MISSOURI - Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter reports a Benton, Missouri couple arrested for Possession of Child Pornography and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm Charges.

Clayton D. Counts (67) of Benton, Missouri has been charged with the Class C Felony of Possession of Child Pornography and the Class C Felony of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.

Judith E. Gray (58) of Benton, Missouri has been charged with the Class C Felony of Possession of Child Pornography.

Sheriff Walter states that on Tuesday, January 26, 2016 deputies and Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms served a search warrant at Count’s residence. This was due to an ongoing investigation into child molestation charges on Counts.

Deputies located a photograph, of a child less than 18 years of age, in Counts and Gray’s bedroom. The photograph was of the child’s private area. The victim identified the photograph as the one that Counts had taken of her. During the search, a single spent casing was located inside a drawer. Located outside in a vehicle were ammunition and a shotgun. The owner of the shotgun lives with Counts and admitted he and Counts shot a box of shotgun shells through the shotgun.

Counts is a convicted felon for murder in 1988, along with other felony convictions.

Investigators were able to determine that Gray has been present during incidents when Counts was raping the victim. Gray would hold the door shut to keep anyone from going inside the bedroom while Counts raped the victim.

Counts and Gray were arrested and transported to the Scott County Jail pending formal charges.

Counts remains in custody at the Scott County Jail. Bond was set by the court at $25,000 cash only. Gray was released from custody by the courts on a summons to appear.

Address/Location
Scott County Sheriff's Office
131 S New Madrid St
Benton, MO 63736

Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 573-545-3525

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