Grand Jury returns indictment in Rudd case

Rusty Dale Rudd, 26
Rusty Dale Rudd, 26

A grand jury in Callaway County has indicted Rusty Dale Rudd, who is expected to answer to 30 charges in court Monday.

"He was indicted by a grand jury in Callaway County yesterday," county Prosecuting Attorney Christopher Wilson said Friday.

Rudd, 26, remains in Callaway County Jail with no bond.

"Right now, he is still being held on no bond," Wilson said. "Whenever a trial judge is assigned, they will decide (if a bond will be issued)."

Rudd is accused in 30 counts, including those stemming from incidents in March and in 2016. In early April, the state filed two amended complaints with 14 felony offenses and 16 misdemeanor offenses. The grand jury just filed slightly different charges, but there are still 30 counts, according to Wilson and court documents.

Rudd was initially charged after a March 23 disturbance near Portland where a victim accused Rudd of repeatedly holding her against her will, raping, choking and assaulting her. The victim also reported similar incidents had happened last year.

Charges include two counts of rape in the first degree, forcible compulsion (Section 566.030, RSMo), plus 12 felonies including rape, kidnapping, domestic assault, tampering with a victim, sodomy and stealing.

Sixteen misdemeanor charges include domestic assault, property damage, attempted violation of an order of protection, tampering with a victim, false imprisonment.

The grand jury indictment also states Rudd is a prior offender and a persistent offender, stating he was convicted Jan. 2, 2009 ,of felonies of second-degree assault of a law-enforcement officer and resisting arrest (in Osage County Circuit Court). He also was convicted Feb. 3, 2010, of felonies of stealing a motor vehicle and stealing (also in Osage County Circuit Court).

Grand juries were once seated here every three years. However, since 2016, grand juries are seated year-round in Callaway County, Wilson said. There is less exposure of identities of undercover agents, confidential informants and victims in grand jury proceedings, eliminating the times they testify in open court (such as in preliminary hearings), he said. However, if Rudd's case goes to a jury trial, the courtroom will be open.

"We would not expect a trial in this case until late summer or the fall," he added.