A criminal case involving multiple felony sex charges against a Bates County man will now be tried in Henry County following a change of venue.
Court records show George William Lewis is facing nine felony counts connected to the alleged sexual abuse of a child over several years. The charges were returned by a Bates County grand jury and include one count of first-degree statutory sodomy, two counts of second-degree sexual trafficking of a child, and six counts of first-degree rape, one of which is classified as an aggravated sexual offense.
According to the grand jury indictment, the alleged crimes occurred between 2015 and 2023 and involve a victim identified in court documents as “Victim 1,” who was a minor at the time of the alleged offenses. Prosecutors allege Lewis engaged in sexual acts with the child while the victim was under the age of consent and, in some cases, through forcible compulsion.
The indictment further states Lewis is considered a persistent sexual offender under Missouri law because of a prior felony conviction for first-degree statutory rape in Bates County in 2004. That status could subject him to enhanced punishment if convicted, including the possibility of a life sentence. Several of the current charges also carry mandatory lifetime supervision, and some require that at least 85 percent of any sentence be served before a defendant is eligible for parole.
A court docket entry shows Lewis was formally arraigned in Bates County Circuit Court in July and entered not guilty pleas to all counts. He waived a formal reading of the indictment and agreed to participate in court proceedings by video while being held in custody.
Last month, defense attorneys requested a change of venue. The request was granted, and the case has now been transferred from Bates County to Henry County Circuit Court.
The case is currently scheduled for a jury trial on Monday, March 30, 2026. Lewis remains in custody while awaiting trial.
