Waynesville military member charged with sodomy, sexual assault

WAYNESVILLE, Mo. — An active military member from Waynesville has been charged after an investigation by the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department into a sexual assault incident that occurred in late June.

Court documents state that Gareth Antonio Rentas-Ponce is charged with one felony of second-degree sodomy and two misdemeanors of second-degree sexual abuse and second-degree sexual misconduct.

According to the probable cause statement, a detective with the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department (PCSD) was informed on June 30, 2024, about a sexual assault at the 19000 block of Ladera Road in Waynesville from June 28.

The victim said Rentas-Ponce sent her a friend request through Facebook, stating he was a student at a massage school and was offering free massages at his residence looking for feedback.

In an interview with the PCSD, the victim explained that she went to Rentas-Ponce’s residence twice for massages on the lower level. There were no problems in the first appointment, but in the second appointment on June 28, Rentas-Ponce inappropriately touched her and knowingly had sexual intercourse with her without her consent.

The victim said she was afraid to move and closed her eyes because she thought she could get hurt due to Rentas-Ponce’s being in the military and his fiancee was upstairs during the incident. The victim was later able to get up and get dressed after the incident.

In court documents, the school Rentas-Ponce attends said the sexualization of what is taught at the school is prohibited.

Rentas-Ponce is currently on a $100,000 bond, is under GPS monitoring and is prohibited from contacting the victim or leaving Pulaski County without permission from the Court.

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