Southeast Missourian

A Jackson man was in custody Wednesday facing child-molestation charges after prosecutors say he inappropriately touched an 8-year-old girl this month while she was in his care. 35-year old Nicholas Goetz is charged with first-degree child molestation and is being held at the Cape Girardeau County Jail on a $50,000 bond. The charge carries a possible prison sentence of up to 15 years. If he posts bond Goetz would have to agree to no contact with a child under the age of 17 and he would be on house arrest. He also would also have to stay at least 1,000 feet from the residence of the alleged victim. A probable-cause statement filed with the circuit clerk's office, says the 8-year-old's mother spoke with a sheriff's deputy on Oct. 14. She said she had left her daughter in the care of Goetz for 45 minutes the day before. When she returned her daughter had locked herself into a bedroom. The girl told her mother that Goetz had sexually abused her. The victim was taken to Beacon Health Center. The case was filed in Judge Gary Kamp's associate circuit court and Goetz may be arraigned as early as Monday.