Couple facing sodomy charges

Posted 11/7/19

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Attention subscribers

We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.

If you are a digital subscriber with an active subscription, or you are a print subscriber who had access to our previous wesbite, then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you have not yet logged in to your account on this new site.

If the system cannot find your info, please call us at (636) 456-6397 or email recordclass@warrencountyrecord.com.

If you are a current print subscriber and did not have a user account on our previous website, you can set up a free website account by clicking here.

Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.

Couple facing sodomy charges

Posted Thursday, November 7, 2019 2:37 pm

Warren County felony charges have been filed against a man and a woman accused of forcing a young boy to engage in sexual acts.Joshua M. Birdnow, 36, and Heather R. Steiner, 26, both of Wright City, are charged in felony complaints with two counts each of first-degree statutory sodomy.The charges allege that Birdnow and Steiner performed deviate sexual acts with a person under the age of 14.The court ordered $150,000 cash-only bonds in the case.The charges stem from alleged incidents involving a young boy, who was 8 years old at the time, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office reported.In October 2013, an officer with the Division of Family Services contacted Sheriff’s Detective Randy Deatherage in reference to the sexual assault investigation.The detective said he also obtained a copy of a forensics interview with the victim conducted by the Children’s Advocacy Center. The boy, during the interview, described an incident that occurred at a residence on Clarence Avenue in Wright City.The victim recalled that the incident, involving both Birdnow and Steiner, occurred between Feb. 22 and May 30, 2013, according to a probable cause statement filed in circuit court. Deatherage, in his statement, said the victim also described another, similar incident that occurred a couple of years prior to that date, which occurred at an unidentified apartment in the Westwood Village apartment complex in Wright City. That alleged encounter also involved Birdnow and Steiner, according to the statement. The detective said his investigation turned up physical evidence and letters written by Steiner that appear to substantiate the boy’s allegations.Birdnow pleaded guilty in 2013 to four misdemeanor counts of stealing leased or rented property and was ordered to pay fines on each charge, according to online court records.Steiner pleaded guilty in March 2015 to a felony charge of receiving stolen property and was given a suspended sentence and 120 days’ shock time in prison, records show.She also has a pending felony drug possession charge in a Feb. 24, 2016, incident, reports show.The statutory sodomy charges were issued Aug. 11.

Joshua Birdnow (left) and Heather Steiner (right)

Couple facing sodomy charges

Couple facing sodomy charges

Truck driver seriously injured in Marthasville …

Warrenton soccer celebrates Senior Night in style

Wright City racks up stats in rolling to first win

Eli Schneider’s big game helps get Warrenton back …

Couple facing sodomy charges

Attention subscribers

Please log in to continue

Need an account?

Print and web subscribers

Online-only subscribers

Non-subscribers

Couple facing sodomy charges