An online petition posted this week calls on the Attorney General to investigate dropped charges against two Nodaway County teenagers.

The online petition at www.change.org had 235 signatures Friday morning.

It calls for Attorney General Chris Koster to investigate why the charges were dropped against 17 Year old Jordan Zech and why 17 year old Matthew Barnett’s charges were downgraded to misdemeanor child endangerment.

The two were originally charged in January after an alleged sexual assault on a 13 and 14 year old girl. Zech was accused of filming the assaults.

Barnett was accused of sexually assaulting a 14 year old girl. All parties were reportedly drinking at the time. A probable cause statement noted the 14 year old did not remember having sex with Barnett.

Charges were dropped earlier this month when prosecuting Attorney Robert Rice said they had reviewed all the evidence, and that he was convinced dropping the charges was the right call.

The petition alleges that former State Representative Rex Barnett, grandfather of Matthew Barnett, may have influenced Sheriff Daren White and the prosecutor to drop the charges.

Prosecutor Rice was not available for comment today.