In a bond appearance hearing on Tuesday afternoon, Richard (Rick) L. Renno was represented by Shane Lee Farrow with prosecutor Daniel Dysart on the other side of the aisle. Judge M. Blane Baker presided over the case. Renno’s bond was met and amended to allow supervised contact with family under 18 as long as the parents of the child are present. A status conference was set for September 22 at 1:30 PM to allow multiple outstanding search warrants to be enacted and give time for the discovery process. Renno agreed to waive his applicable time standard to allow this date.
Renno, 62, of Lincoln was arrested early on Monday, June 9 for child sex crimes following an investigation by DDCC, a division of the Missouri Highway Patrol.
In August 2024, DDCC investigators received information from a Benton County citizen regarding an adult male who contacted a child who he believed to be under 16 years of age. According to their report, the suspect contacted the individual through an online social media platform and explicit sexual advances were made. In the following months, investigators identified Renno as a person of interest in the case and on June 9, 2025, investigators contacted Renno at his residence in Lincoln, Missouri. A search warrant was executed during which they seized potential evidence.
Following an interview with investigators, Renno was arrested and transported to the Benton County Jail on a 24-hour hold. Dysart, the St. Clair County Prosecuting Attorney, was assigned to the case as a Special Prosecutor. Renno was charged with one count of Enticement or Attempted Enticement of A Child Less Than 15 Years of Age and one count of Sexual Misconduct Involving A Child. Bond was set at $100,000 and according to the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, Renno posted bond at around 6:00 PM that same evening.
In their report and press release, the MSHP noted that the above charges are a mere accusation and not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of these charges must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
According to County Commissioner Steve Daleske, “Renno will stay as the elected County Treasurer until the County Commission receives further direction.”
The Division of Drug and Crime Control encourages internet users to promptly report anyone who attempts to engage in unwanted, inappropriate, or sexual communications with children.
