West Plains, MO. – A man from West Plains was recently arrested for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old female. 40-year-old Curtis Havens is being charged with 6 counts of 2nd-degree child molestation and aggravated sexual assault, and two counts of attempted 2nd-degree child molestation and aggravated sexual offense.
According to the probable cause affidavit from the Howell County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy and a Children’s Division Investigator responded to a residence after receiving a call with allegations of sexual abuse. Upon arrival, the deputy spoke to the caller who stated that Curtis Havens had repeatedly sexually assaulted her 14-year-old daughter while she was at his residence on April 25, 2024.
On May 1, 2024, the victim was interviewed at the South Center Child Advocacy Center in West Plains. During that interview, she told officials that she and Havens were searching an area for scrap metal and got covered in ticks. Once back in the residence, they were picking ticks off and Havens forced the victim to take off her clothes so he could “check her for ticks”. This was when he started to inappropriately touch her while making her lie down on his bed. The victim returned to his house the next day and the same thing happened again. On May 21, 2024, Havens was interviewed and he stated that the victim did lay on the bed and he did check her for ticks but he denied her ever taking her clothes off.
Havens is being held at the Howell County Jail with a bond totaling $50,000.
