Howell County, MO. – The former Howell County deputy was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old boy last August. Rob Pilkington, 57, was found guilty of five counts of statutory sodomy, three counts of statutory rape and one count of using a child in a sex act. He was sentenced to 50 years.

Pilkington was working as a school resource officer at South Fork Elementary School at the time of the allegations. However, school officials and court documents say the incident occurred outside of the workday and did not involve a South Fork student. According to the initial probable cause statement, Pilkington was arrested on November 24, 2021, after allegations that he had a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old child. During an interview with Pilkington, he admitted to the Missouri State Highway Patrol that he had sexual contact with the victim.

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In a preliminary hearing on January 19, 2022, he pleaded not guilty to the charges. A year later, effective November 24, 2023, his case received a change of venue and was held in Butler County. Pilkington was in a three-day jury trial facing 13 charges, including six counts of statutory sodomy, four counts of first-degree statutory rape, two counts of third-degree child molestation and one charge of using a child in a sexual performance. .

Pilkington was found guilty of 9 of the 14 charges he originally faced.

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