93.3 KWTO Keeping Watch Over the Ozarks
A man from Springfield is in custody on charges that he physically and sexually abused a 17-year-old girl.
Prosecutors say 28-year-old Connor Zacha faces 22 felony charges, including:
- Sexual exploitation of a minor
- First-degree rape
- Second-degree statutory rape
- Second-degree statutory sodomy
- Abuse or neglect of a child
- First-danger endangering the welfare of a child
- First-degree kidnapping
- Five counts of unlawful use of a weapon
- Possession of a controlled substance
- Delivery of marijuana to a person less than 17
- Distribution of a controlled substance in a protected location
- Unlawful possession, transport, manufacture, repair or sale of an illegal weapon
- Two counts of second-degree possession of child pornography
- Three counts of first-degree possession of child pornography
Zacha was arrested after authorities conducted a traffic stop on June 20. Two juvenile girls were inside the car, where one of the two reported that he had sexually abused her while she was homeless.
She claimed he had abused her over 20 times.
The victim told police that she agreed to have sex with Zacha in exchange for drugs, and would often wake up from being unconscious to him assaulting her.
She also claimed that he was physically abusive, and once through her through a wall, covered the hole with boards and held her captive for eight days without food.
The victim also said that Zacha admitted to creating and selling sexually explicit images of underage children. He claimed he would give the girls tattoo in exchange for nude photos.
When authorities conducted a search of his residence, they found firearms, drug paraphernalia, sexually explicit material considered child pornography, and an explosive device.
Zacha is being held in the Greene County Jail without bond. A potential first court appearance date has not been revealed.