The allegation stems from a July 27 encounter reported months later to West Plains police.
WEST PLAINS, Mo. — A Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper, Ethan Minge, was charged Tuesday with second-degree rape in Howell County after a woman told investigators he forced sex at her West Plains home this summer, according to court filings and a Patrol statement.
Prosecutors filed the felony count Dec. 9, closing a months-long police investigation into the complaint and moving the case into court. The Patrol confirmed it opened an internal review through its Professional Standards Division and placed the trooper on administrative leave without pay effective the day the charge was filed. The filing does not indicate when a preliminary hearing will occur, but a judge set bond and the case is now on the Howell County Circuit Court docket.
In an affidavit supporting the charge, an investigator wrote that the woman reported the incident on Oct. 23 and described a July 27 encounter at her West Plains residence. The probable cause statement says the trooper came to the home, pushed her onto her back and had sex after she told him no. The narrative notes a text message sent the next day that acknowledges her refusal and includes an apology. Minge is assigned to Troop G, which covers south-central Missouri communities including West Plains from a headquarters in Willow Springs.
The Patrol’s public statement, delivered by Captain Scott White, acknowledged the arrest and said the agency followed policy by notifying internal investigators and removing the trooper from duty during the review. Administrative leave without pay separates the internal personnel process from the criminal case overseen by the county prosecutor. The West Plains Police Department led the criminal investigation before forwarding the case for review. Officials did not release medical records or additional physical evidence in the public file, and the court summary listed only the single count of second-degree rape.
Second-degree rape in Missouri is a felony that can carry a prison term if there is a conviction; the exact penalty depends on the statute cited in the formal information and any aggravating factors presented later. After filing, typical steps include an initial appearance, potential bond condition changes and a preliminary hearing where a judge decides if sufficient evidence exists to send the case to circuit court for trial. As of Friday morning, the online docket reflected the bond amount and basic case entries; a specific hearing date was not visible in the public summary.
The case drew quiet attention around the courthouse Thursday as residents asked clerks for basic information between hearings. Outside, a West Plains resident who lives near the reported address said the filing “landed like a thunderclap” because it involves a state trooper. Another person, who said he works nearby, added, “People want to see the system handle this fairly.” No press conference had been scheduled by West Plains police, and there were no additional public comments from Howell County officials by midday.
The criminal case remains pending in Howell County Circuit Court. The Patrol’s internal review continues separately, and the next public milestone will be the posting of the first hearing date on the court’s schedule.
Author note: Last updated December 12, 2025.