Bethany Man Facing 45 Years in Prison, Lifetime Supervision Under New Indictment

BETHANY, MO – A Bethany man has been indicted on allegations of child sex crimes dating back to 2019.

Dustin Paul Fortner was originally charged with child molestation of a child less than 14 years old, sexual misconduct with a child under 15 years old and endangering the welfare of a child in February of 2020.

Those charges were dismissed last April when Fortner was indicted by a grand jury for child molestation in the third degree, harassment in the first degree, sexual misconduct of a child, and child abuse. 

The indictment was dismissed and last Friday a grand jury issued another indictment alleging Fortner committed the felony of enticement of a child and child molestation in the second degree.  The charges are from the same allegation as in the first two cases filed against Fortner.  As charged in the most recent indictment, if he is found guilty he would be subject to a minimum sentence of 5 years in prison and a maximum of 45 years.  He would also be subject to a lifetime of supervision as a sex offender.  

Under Missouri statute, anyone subject to lifetime supervision is required to be electronically monitored.  Missouri law also allows the parole board to terminate supervision of an offender who is over sixty-five years of age in certain circumstances.

Fortner was arrested on the new indictment and is in custody on a $500,000 bond. He was set to appear in court this (Monday) morning.