Taney County man facing rape charge of 13-year-old girl in Yellville, Marion County woman also facing charge

A Taney County man is facing a rape charge involving a 13-year-old girl from Boone County and a Marion County woman, a relative of the victim, has also been charged in connection with the case. Being held in the Taney County Jail is 39-year-old Jason Edward Caton of Rockaway Beach. Arrested, and free on bond, is 63-year-old Mary Williams Close of Yellville.According to the probable cause affidavits in the case from a federal task force officer with the United States Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, Caton told investigators he met the victim on an app. After talking for a couple of weeks, he drove to Yellville to meet the girl and they had intercourse at the relative’s house. The victim would then spend several days at Caton’s house where they had intercourse several more times.

Caton told investigators he asked the girl multiple times how old she was and she told him she was 18 and was about to turn 19. He said there was no point where he knew the victim was underage and he met her on an adult dating app. He said the relative was at the house in Yellville and never said how old the victim was. Investigators asked why Caton would keep asking the victim how old she was if he believed she was 18. He said it was from her photo on the app and when he took her back to Yellville from his house which was the first time seeing her in the daylight.

Caton is charged with one count of rape. He also faces a penalty enhancement for being a habitual offender after being convicted of robbery in the state of Washington in 2019. He is being held in the Taney County Jail on a $50,000 bond. Federal charges are still possible in the case.

Close is charged with one count of permitting child abuse. She told investigators she knew the victim was talking to older men and even changed her internet password to prevent her from chatting online. She says she also knew the girl was deceiving men by saying she was 19 or 20 years old.

Close denied the two had intercourse at her residence. She says they were only talking.

Close is free from the Marion County Detention Center after posting $15,000 bond.

Close has two previous felony arrests in Baxter County. One was for possession of a controlled substance, theft of property and drug fraud. The other arrest was for drug fraud.

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