St. Peters man accused of inappropriate relationships with girls
ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. – A St. Peters, Missouri, man is awaiting trial on charges he maintained inappropriate relationships with young girls who are siblings.
According to the St. Peters Police Department’s probable cause statement, the incident unfolded from about Nov. 1, 2023, to Dec. 1, 2023.
The father of two girls contacted the Maryland Heights Police Department and reported they’d been given cellphones and tablets by a man living in St. Peters, later identified as Robert E. Ward (age not provided).
The daughters told police that Ward would drive from St. Peters to pick them up and provide them with rides, cash, clothing, alcohol, and marijuana.
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One of the daughters said Ward met her and her two sisters in summer 2023, while they were walking in Ferguson. Ward offered them a ride and the girls accepted. After the ride, the daughter said Ward gave her $20 and asked for a kiss.
The same girl told police Ward gave them rides to various locations over the next few weeks, including to his home in St. Peters. She said Ward asked her and her sister for lap dances and offered them money. She reported that Ward offered to give her money if he could touch her. She described seeing images of naked people she described as “kids” on his computer tablet, as well as nude images of Ward.
On Nov. 30, the girl’s parents reported her as a runaway or missing person. The following day, police found the girl at Ward’s residence in a spare bedroom.
Police claim Ward admitted to picking up the girl on Nov. 27 and bringing her back to his home. He told them he thought she was 18 and denied knowing that she was really 13. He admitted giving the girl and her sister cash, food, and a place to stay, and he even drove them to a property in Warren County for a barbecue and to swim in a creek. He denied that he’d ever touched them in a sexual manner, offered them drugs or alcohol, or asked for any sexual favors.
The St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Ward with second-degree endangering the welfare of a child and enticement or attempted enticement of a child under the age of 15.
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