West Plains man charged with sexually abusing caretaker

WEST PLAINS, Mo. — A man from West Plains has been charged with a felony after sexually abusing a caretaker.

According to online court dockets, Ricky Rost, born 1979, is charged with one count of first-degree sexual abuse. 

The probable cause statement says the incident occurred in the 1000 block of 4th Street in West Plains on Aug. 4. 

The victim told police that while she was acting as a caretaker for Rost, he went into an office room and gave her a hug.  She asked Rost if he was okay, and he said he was having a “bad day,” the statement says. 

The statement says Rost proceeded to sexually abuse her. The victim instructed Rost to stop, and he began leaning on her until she backed into a couch and fell down.

Rost used his body weight to keep the victim on the couch, pinning her underneath his body weight. He began “laughing” after she told him to get off of her and continued sexually abusing her, per the statement.

Rost is being held in the Howell County Jail with a $10,000 bond set.