Probable cause: Mount Vernon woman took underage girls home where son assaulted them

A Mount Vernon woman took children from the Missouri Baptist Children's Home to her home where her son, who was out on bond on a statutory rape charge and wearing an.ankle monitor sexually assaulted them, according to a probable cause statement filed Monday in Lawrence County Circuit Court.

Lawanna Lee Wilson (DOB 1973) is charged with two counts of sexual trafficking of a child and five counts of endangering the welfare of a child and is being held without bond.

The allegations against Wilson were detailed in the probable cause statement:

On September 28, 2023, our office began an investigation into possible sexual contact with children who were in custody of the Missouri Baptist Children's Home located at 603 N. Main, Mount Vernon, Lawrence County, Missouri.

On October 5, 2023 {an} interview with V1, 17 years of age in the Monett CAC Interview Room {was held} and the following was disclosed:

V-1 was in the Missouri Baptist Children's Home between August 23, 2023 until September 25, 2023 while Lawanna Wilson was employed {there} and had been at the home of Lawanna and Tanner Wilson {Lawanna's son} three times.

V1 told the interviewer Lawanna Wilson was in the living room while her son took V1 into the laundry room to watch movies.

While in the laundry room, Tanner Wilson kissed V1 and put {her} hand on crotch with V1 saying to Tanner, "No."

V1 claimed she {she} was unable to move away from the sexual advance of Tanner Wilson and when {he} grabbed {her} hand to place {it} on his crotch area that it hurt {her} hand.

Tanner then started kissing V1 again, this time putting his hands under {her} clothing, touching {her} breast and on {her} buttocks area as well.

Tanner told V1 during this incident "not to tell anyone and it would be their little secret. Come on, it will be fun. Trust me."

V2 was in the Missouri Baptist Children's Home between April 4, 2023 and August 12, 2023, while Lawanna Wilson was working there and had been at her home three times.

V2 disclosed that the ankle monitor was visible on Tanner Wilson when {she} went to the home of Lawanna and Tanner Wilson.

{She disclosed that while on one visit at {their} home that {she} was in Tanner's room. Tanner "forced a kiss" and "we kissed with tongue and made out that day." {She disclosed that Lawanna was in the living room when this occurred."

V2 also told investigators Tanner had given her alcohol and that Lawanna Wilson had shared alcohol with her and bought her a vape and vape cartridges, according to the probable cause statement.

V3, a 15-year-old was also victimized, the probable cause statement said. She was at the Wilson home "several times."

V3 disclosed that {she} went into the residence of Lawanna and Tanner Wilson to get a drink. {She} advised that once inside the residence "things got out of control" with Tanner Wilson.

{She} further explained that Tanner Wilson exposed his penis and tried to get her to touch {it}. This behavior caused V3 to start shaking and "freaked out."

The girl told investigators Tanner Wilson continued to try to get her to do sexual things and that he "grabbed boob" and tried to insert his fingers into her on more than occasion, according to the statement.

V4, a 16-year-old girl said Tanner Wilson tried to "do things" with her but she didn't.

V5 at been at the Wilsons' home three to four times and saw girls who were in Lawanna Wilson's care using vapes and smoking cigarettes. And shaw V2 and V3 "going for a walk to the barn with Tanner Wilson" while Lawanna was in the living room.

V6, a 17-year-old girl who went to the Wilsons' home 10 times, said she wrote lettters to Tanner Wilson while he was in jail and when he was released, "she ran up to Tanner Wilson and wrapped her legs around him giving him a hug."

Lawanna Wilson was interviewed on 10-23-23 and after Miranda rights admitted to having V1 at her home to look for movies to watch and admitted that it was not a smart idea to have the girls from the home around her son who was out on bond for statutory rape.

Tanner Wilson was out on LBS for statutory rape from May 2, 2023 till October 23, 2023.

That was when the Lawrence County Sheriff's Office arrested him.

Tanner Wilson was sentenced April 14 to 10 years for child abuse and seven years for sexual abuse with the sentences to run concurrently.