A Joplin woman who pleaded guilty today in Jasper County Circuit Court to the statutory rape of her boyfriend's autistic son was sentenced to five years in prison by Judge Dean Dankelson, but she may be free in four months after she completes a court-ordered program, according to court documents.
Dankelson approved the plea agreement Shannon McLaughlin and her public defender reached with the Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney's office.
From the probable cause statement:
Victim 1 states that they were parked in a parking lot, he and McLaughlin entered the back seat, and McLaughlin asked him if he wanted to have sex. Victim 1 agreed by saying "Ok" and he states they started playing with each other.
During the interview, the boy was shown diagrams of a man and a woman and showed where he touched McLaughlin and where McLaughlin touched him, the probable cause statement said.
The woman and the boy were having sexual intercourse when "the cops drove by and turned on their lights, so they stopped."
On 03/29/2025 Officers with the Joplin Police Department checked on a suspicious vehicle, parked in a gravel lot near 10th Street and Kentucky Avenue Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri. The approximate time was 11:48 PM. The vehicle was a grey Chevrolet Trail Blazer, parked, headlights were on.
Shannon McLaughlin opened the rear driver side door and Officers observed she didn't have any shoes on. Victim 1 was sitting in the front passenger seat without a shirt on and the windows of the vehicle were fogged up. McLaughlin is in a relationship with Victim 1's father, however they are not married.
They were the only ones inside the vehicle upon police contact.
An interview was conducted at the Children's Center of Southwest Missouri with Victim 1. During the interview with a children's advocate interviewer Victim 1 acknowledged and discussed having sexual intercourse with McLaughlin.
Shannon McLaughlin opened the rear driver side door and Officers observed she didn't have any shoes on. Victim 1 was sitting in the front passenger seat without a shirt on and the windows of the vehicle were fogged up. McLaughlin is in a relationship with Victim 1's father, however they are not married.
They were the only ones inside the vehicle upon police contact.
An interview was conducted at the Children's Center of Southwest Missouri with Victim 1. During the interview with a children's advocate interviewer Victim 1 acknowledged and discussed having sexual intercourse with McLaughlin.
Victim 1 states that they were parked in a parking lot, he and McLaughlin entered the back seat, and McLaughlin asked him if he wanted to have sex. Victim 1 agreed by saying "Ok" and he states they started playing with each other.
During the interview, the boy was shown diagrams of a man and a woman and showed where he touched McLaughlin and where McLaughlin touched him, the probable cause statement said.
The woman and the boy were having sexual intercourse when "the cops drove by and turned on their lights, so they stopped."
