Kansas woman charged with statutory rape

? A 22-year-old Kansas woman has been charged with statutory rape for allegedly having sex with her 15-year-old male baby sitter.

Jasper County Associate Judge Richard Copeland ordered Ashley N. Thompson, of Columbus, bound over for trial on a charge of second-degree statutory rape Thursday after a preliminary hearing in Joplin. The judge scheduled Thompson for a first appearance later this month.

Thompson is accused of having sexual relations with the 15-year-old Jasper County boy in March.

The boy testified at the hearing that he began baby-sitting for Thompson’s two young children in March. His relationship with Thompson turned sexual shortly afterward.