Michael Rance, 55, a 32-year law enforcement veteran has been formally indicted by a Sunflower County Grand Jury on charges related to a July 2018 arrest, where he was charged with child molestation with regard to a 15-year-old girl.
Based on information released by the Indianola Police Department, the alleged incident took place at Rance’s home after the child was allowed to accompany Rance, who was reportedly a family friend, on a shopping trip to Walmart.
According to documents filed in the Sunflower County Circuit Clerk’s office on October 2 of this year, Rance waived the formal reading of the indictment and entered a plea of not guilty.
At the time of his arrest, Rance was reportedly employed as a school resource officer with the SCCSD and a night deputy with the Sunflower County Sheriff’s department. A joint press conference following his arrest revealed that he has worked for several departments throughout his 32-year career.
District Attorney W. Dewayne Richardson said his office does not comment on open cases, however filed documents reveal that the case was assigned to Assistant District Attorney Takiyah H. Perkins. At press time, no trial date had been set.
Attorney Gaines S. Dyer of Greenville is representing Rance in court.
