Former officer admits fondling girl while on duty

LIBERTY, Mo. -- A former Lawson police officer pleaded guilty to reduced charges of fondling a 16-year-old girl and having her fondle him, while he was on duty and ostensibly checking on her welfare.

Douglas John Zimmer, 29, could face up to $5,000 in fines and seven years in prison on each of three counts of second-degree statutory sodomy.

In his guilty plea, entered Friday in Clay County Circuit Court, Zimmer admitted having sexual contact with the girl on three occasions in the summer of 2000.

The Ray County case had been moved to Clay County on a defense motion for a change of venue.

Under a plea agreement, prosecutors dismissed charges of second-degree statutory rape, five counts of second-degree assault, six counts of a public servant acceding to corruption and one count of misdemeanor third-degree assault.

Ray County Prosecutor Stanley Thompson said the incidents took place while Zimmer checked on the girl at her Lawson residence because of some domestic issues.

According to court documents:

The girl's mother had known Zimmer about nine months. The parents were separated, and the mother told Zimmer that she had a restraining order against her husband.

Zimmer visited the family, and the mother said it was not uncommon for Lawson police officers to drive by her house and check on her family.

The mother said she did not see anything unusual between Zimmer and her daughter.

The girl told her mother about the incidents in late August 2000.

The girl said Zimmer was in uniform during the incidents.

Zimmer became a full-time Lawson police officer in December 1999. He had been a reserve officer since July 1999.

In court Friday, Zimmer said he was now self-employed as a home remodeler.

Zimmer's sentencing is set for April 26; he remains free on $25,000 bond and is ordered not to have contact with the girl, who did not attend Friday's hearing.