Trial dates set for Mitchell Rose
Both of Mitchell Rose’s trials have been set.
His trial on his St. Francois County charges has been scheduled for Oct. 4-5, 2012, before Circuit Court Judge Kenneth W. Pratte. His trial on the Washington County has been scheduled March 14-16, 2012, before Circuit Court Judge Sandy Martinez.
Rose, 43, of St. Louis, is charged in St. Francois County with five counts of forcible sodomy-deviate sexual intercourse; two counts of forcible rape; and three counts of felonious restraint.
Rose is charged with nine counts of forcible sodomy; three counts of forcible rape; and two counts of use of a child in a sexual performance in Washington County.
His co-defendants have pleaded guilty.
In November, Mark A. Petteys, 41, pleaded guilty to second-degree statutory sodomy, use of a child in a sexual performance, incest, felonious restraint, sexual assault and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child in a ritual/ceremony and was sentenced to 28 years in prison.
Regina Petteys, 40, was sentenced in September to 20 years in prison for the St. Francois County charges of use of a child in a sexual performance, three counts of endangering the welfare of a child in a ritual/ceremony and three counts of felonious restraint and the Washington County charge of endangering the welfare of a child in a ritual/ceremony.
According to court records from the Washington County charges, in August of 2008, Rose told one of the victims that he was a “leader of a family that could offer her great protection from anyone.” He said the “family” was a place to feel needed and loved.
A victim told police that Rose spoke to her a long time pressuring her to join this family. She eventually agreed and afterward, Rose told her that the only way out of the family was death or to be killed.
After the victim agreed to join the family, she was led to a bedroom where she had to complete an initiation which included sexual intercourse. She said Rose told her she “already knew too much” and she had to go ahead with the initiation. Afterward, Rose threatened to kill her if she told anyone about what happened.
The St. Francois County charges were the result of an indictment so not much is known about the incidents that led to those charges. According to the indictments the crimes occurred in 2009 and 2010 and involved as many as four children.
