Estelle Kerns, a St. Louis woman, was sentenced Tuesday to 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree statutory rape in Boone County. Prosecutors say the case involved sexual contact with a child younger than 14 that stretched over several weeks, with the plea and sentence entered in Boone County Circuit Court this week.
Plea and sentence
According to KOMU, Kerns pleaded guilty on June 29 to a single count of first-degree statutory rape and accepted a plea deal that set her prison term at 18 years. Court filings reviewed by KOMU state that the victim and the victim’s family agreed to the plea as part of resolving the case.
What prosecutors allege
Earlier reporting by ABC17 and the county probable-cause statement say investigators were told the victim repeatedly told Kerns to stop, yet the sexual contact continued over multiple weeks. A witness cited in the probable-cause paperwork said Kerns later denied that the victim had told her they did not want to participate.
Court records and booking
Boone County online records list the case under docket number 25BA-CR01992-01 and show court activity starting in early 2026, including hearings and filings tied to the matter, according to Boone County records. County detention reports indicate Kerns was booked into the Boone County Jail after her initial arrest and appeared on related court dockets before entering the plea.
Legal context
Under Missouri law, first-degree statutory rape applies when someone has sexual intercourse with a person younger than 14 and can carry penalties ranging from five years to life in prison, per the Missouri Revised Statutes. Convictions for offenses in chapter 566 typically trigger sex-offender registration requirements under sections 589.400-589.425 of state law, which require registration with local law enforcement.
