A Missouri police officer has been charged with statutory rape amongst other sexual crimes charges.
He engaged in sexually explicit conversations with the minor, as well as met her in person for sex under the alias Austin Sims.
Meet Officer August P. Gildehaus. The victim was informed by police that Austin Sims was not an officer employed by the GVPD. After looking through images posted on the department’s Facebook page, the victim’s family recognized “Austin Sims” as Officer August Gildehaus.
The victim was able to identify Gildehaus, describe distinguishing tattoos on him, particularly one of a skyline on his arm, and provide information about his birthday and one of his children’s names.
A Grain Valley, Missouri, police officer has been charged with multiple child sex acts after a juvenile admitted to their parents that they had been sneaking out of the house to meet him.
The Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office said 27-year-old August P. Gildehaus has been charged with first-degree sodomy, sexual exploitation of a minor, four counts of second-degree statutory sodomy, and three counts of second-degree statutory rape.
According to the prosecutor’s office, the Grain Valley, Missouri Police Chief reached out to the Missouri State Highway Patrol to investigate allegations that an officer had engaged in sex acts in 2022 and 2023 with a juvenile.
August P. Gildehaus is a 27-year-old Grain Valley police officer. He has been charged with first-degree sodomy, sexual exploitation of a minor, four counts of second-degree statutory sodomy, and three counts of second-degree statutory rape.
A probable cause report from MSHP claims that Gildehaus used the alias Austin Sims when interacting with the victim on websites like Omegle and Discord. The probable cause statement claims that Gildehaus knew the victim was under the age of 17, and he nonetheless continued to have sexually explicit chats with her.
The prosecutor’s office claims that the Grain Valley, Missouri Police Chief contacted the Missouri State Highway Patrol to inquire into claims that an officer was involved in sexual activities with a minor in 2022 and 2023.
In a statement Wednesday evening, which does not identify Gildehaus by name, the city said Grain Valley’s police officers are “committed to the oaths of office” for law enforcement and that “any criminal activity” involving sworn personnel is taken seriously. Officers are also expected not to “discredit the public trust put in the agency.”
“We recognize the alleged crime is sensitive in nature and acknowledge the pain this can bring to individual families as well as the community as a whole,” the statement says. “As we embark on the future, we encourage the community to bring forth concerns as we enhance professionalism at the Grain Valley Police Department.”
The city said decisions concerning Gildehaus’s employment were made in line with the Police Officers Bill of Rights, a state law passed in 2021 that opponents contend shields police disciplinary actions from public scrutiny.
Discover more from KossyDerrickent
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
