Family friend charged with molesting 9-year-old Washburn girl

 

The Barry County Prosecuting Attorney's office filed second-degree child molestation charges against a Cassville man.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Triston Kordell Garner, 28, with bond set at $100,000 cash only.

From the probable cause statement:

Our Affiant states that on 12/27/25 at approximately 23:30, I was dispatched to 305 South Street located in Washburn, Mo for a possible sexual assault of a juvenile female.

Upon arrival at the address, I spoke with the reporting party the mother of the juvenile female.

STATEMENT BY REPORTING PARTY:

My daughter said she was touched inappropriately by her cousin Triston Garner he is 28 years old. My daughter is 9 years old, she said he said," I will rape you," she doesn't know what that means. sShe also stated he stuck his hands down her pants.

The reporting party went on to say that Triston Garner Suspect 1 had been staying at their residence for a while, and he is friends with her husband, suspect 1 tells everyone they are cousins. The reporting party said when suspect 1 was confronted with the allegations on the night of this incident, he took off walking toward Cassville where he has family.

CONCLUSION

Triston Garner suspect 1 has been staying with the family for a while due to not having a place to live. E.C. also said that suspect 1 attempted to get her to kiss him on the lips and told her it would be fun. It is believed that he was attempting to have sexual intercourse with the 9-year victim but was unsuccessful in the attempt.

However, Triston did take photos of the 9-year-old victim and showed her photos of an AI 
female naked with her face on the female's body. Triston appeared to be grooming her to have sex with him. 

At this time his phone had been recovered from a brush pile he threw it into, before taking off on the night he was confronted. It was learned through Barry County dispatch that Triston had called 911 and Cassville Police Officer went to Cassville heights apartments, because Triston was afraid someone was going to hurt him according to 911 operator.