Accused Maryville rapist avoids sexual assault charges, faces misdemeanor

The teenager who was accused or raping 14-year-old Daisy Coleman in Maryville, Missouri in 2012 will be charged with a misdemeanor instead of sexual assault, prosecutors said on Thursday.

In a press conference, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced he had filed charges against 19-year-old Matthew Barnett for the misdemeanor offense of endangering the welfare of a child.

Last year, a Missouri county prosecutor had asked for a special prosecutor to review the charge that Coleman was raped by the older high school student in 2012 and then left her unconscious on her family’s frozen front lawn in 2012. Since then, the teen has been the victim of a cyberbulling campaign and has attempted suicide.

Although, Barnett admitted having sex with Coleman, Nodaway County Prosecutor Robert Rice eventually dropped felony charges, saying that the victim's family refused to cooperate. However, Coleman's mother argued that she only refused to cooperate with the prosecutor after he decided to drop the charges.

If Barnett is convicted of the misdemeanor endangering charge, he could face a $1,000 fine and up to one year in prison.

Watch this video from KCTV, broadcast Jan 9, 2013.

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