Farmington Man Decides to Plead Guilty to Raping 13-Year-Old

(Farmington) A man from Farmington, who faced statutory rape charges out of St. Francois County, decided this week to withdraw a not guilty plea and plead guilty to one count of first degree statutory rape.

22-year-old Dustin Delray Bernard will receive his sentence on March 3rd.

Police reports said on April 23rd of 2019, a 13-year-old victim reported to a Central school counselor in Park Hills that she had been raped by Bernard.

The girl told investigators with the Park Hills Police Department that she spent the night with a friend on April 20th. Bernard laid next to her and began talking to her as she was falling asleep.

The next morning, the victim said she awoke with Bernard trying to pull her on top of him.

When she resisted, Bernard raped her.