Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker was asked to look into the case after complaints that local prosecutors didn't bring rape charges. Peters Baker said she analyzed the case and determined that there wasn't enough evidence to bring a sexual assault case.

Advertisement Mo. man pleads guilty to misdemeanor in Maryville sex case Prosecutor: Insufficient evidence prompted decision not to file rape charge Share Shares Copy Link Copy

A 19-year-old Missouri man has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor child endangerment charge in the highly publicized sexual assault case of a teenage girl in Maryville, Mo.The girl said that she was 14 when Matthew Barnett raped her at a house party exactly two years ago Wednesday. She said a second teenage boy recorded the incident on his cellphone. Barnett said that the sex was consensual.As part of his plea, Barnett will has been sentenced to two years of probation, will pay $1,800 restitution to the victim, perform 100 hours of community service, have no contact with the victim or her family and will not possess or consume alcohol during his probation period. He also must deliver a message of apology to the victim through the prosecutors in the case.In the deal, Barnett avoids the more serious rape charges that some in the community felt were more deserving.Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker was brought in to look into the case last year after complaints that rape charges against Barnett were never brought.Peters Baker said that her analysis of the case found there wasn't enough evidence to bring a rape charge."My job is to analyze evidence," she said. "In this case, there was insufficient evidence to go forward on a rape charge."She said she realizes that not everyone will be satisfied with the decision, but the case, like the legal system in the United States, must be based on evidence."Mr. Burnett was held accountable for his actions," Peters Baker said. "(The guilty plea) is a conviction. It will remain on his record, and it will never go away."Barnett's attorney J.R. Hobbs said the child endangerment charges should speak for itself."Two skilled prosecutors have looked into the investigation and made the determination that rape charges were not appropriate," said Hobbs.Peters Baker said the victim and her mother were both satisfied with the plea deal, which has been in the works for about a month. She said a benefit of the agreement is that the victim will not have to return to the Nodaway County Courthouse to testify against Barnett.She said the victim and her mother were both very cooperative as she investigated the case.The victim issued a statement, saying that she was ready to move forward."To all those who supported me, I promise that what happened on Jan. 8, 2012, will not define me forever," the statement said."These last two years have been extremely painful," the victim's mother said in a statement. "I hope somehow, some way, that something good will come from this."The victim's mother also urged the community to come together in a positive way.The case has generated national attention for Maryville and has drawn reactions on both sides all over town."I will be the first one to admit I think it was brushed under the rug the first time," said Tanya Wilson, who said she has been following the case. "I'm glad something is being done.""I think it was wrong on all sides, bad judgement calls for everyone," said Mary Anne Brown, a friend of Barnett's family. "A 14-year-old coming out of her home late at night to go to a party, maybe the party shouldn't be happening, but it did. Everyone made bad decisions."