Carthage man charged with first-degree sexual abuse

The Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney's office filed a first-degree sexual abuse charge Friday against a Carthage man who allegedly performed a solo sex act that concluded with him assaulting a sleeping woman's face with the results.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Brock James Burns (DOB 2003) with bond set at $10,000 cash or surety.

 

From the probable cause statement:

On 08/02/2025, Victim came to the Carthage Police Department to report a past tense sexual assault. {She} stated that she went to the defendant's Brock Burns' residence after getting kicked out of her parents' residence.

Victim stated that she, Burns and his fiancee (Witness) were drinking alcohol at the residence and that Burns was highly intoxicated. {She} stated that she didn't feel intoxicated. Burns and Witness invited Victim to sleep on the couch in the living room of the residence for the night.

Victim stated that Burns made multiple sexual advances towards them throughout the night and was told no to having sexual intercourse. Victim went to sleep on the couch and woke up with Burns touching the inside of her thigh.

Burns again asked to have intercourse and was told no by the victim. {She} went back to sleep on the couch and was woken up by fluid landing on her face and chest. Victim stated that {she} believed the fluid was semen.

{She} stated that due to her belief that Burns was highly intoxicated, having past violent outbursts, {she} acted asleep until Burns left. Burns reportedly used the blanket the victim was sleeping with to clean up some of the seminal fluid off {her.}

Officers later responded to Burns' residence to make contact with him. Burns was not home, but Witness answered the door. {She} advised officers that Victim had told her about the incident that took place on 08/02/2025.

Witness confronted Burns afterward and he confirmed that he did ask Victim to have intercourse and that {she} told him no and that he responded with "I'm just going to go over there and (perform a solo sex act)."

Witness stated that Burns told her that he had masturbated in front of the victim, but that {she was} awake and didn't seem to mind. Witness stated that {she} had told Burns to leave after finding out the information and didn't know his location.

Burns called back to the police department to provide his statement via phone. Burns told the officer that Victim was sending him "mixed signals" by continually touching him as {she} walked by and kept pointing her butt towards him."

Burns told the officer that he asked Victim to have sex and was told no. Burns then asked {her} if he could {masturbate} over her and {she} stated, "Whatever."

Burns stated that Victim was awake during the entire encounter. Burns advised that Victim had never told him to stop or gave an impression of wrongdoing.

{He} confirmed that he ejaculated on Victim's shirt. Burns also told the officer that he "just wanted to let us know his side of the story and that Victim was making the incident sound way worse than what it was."