Fredericktown, Mo., police officer accused of sex with children; being held in Cape Girardeau County

FREDERICKTOWN, Mo. -- A Southeast Missouri police chief has been transported to the Cape Girardeau County jail and faces 16 counts of statutory sodomy for allegedly having sex with minors.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol arrested 42-year-old Kenneth D. Tomlinson II after 5 p.m. Tuesday in Fredericktown, according to Troop E Sgt. Dale Moreland.

Moreland said the sexual nature of the alleged crimes varies.

A felony complaint from the Office of the Missouri Attorney General indicates four victims were younger than 12, eight were younger than 14 and four were younger than 17. Many of the alleged incidents occurred as far back as March and as recently as December.

As outlined in the complaint, most of the victims are alleging Tomlinson engaged in oral intercourse with them.

Tomlinson, who was also a Boy Scout leader in Fredericktown, is being held in Cape Girardeau County on a $100,000 cash-only bond.

The courts have not released a date when Tomlinson will appear for his first hearing in front of a judge.

ehevern@semissourian.com

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