Criminal investigation into former Sedalia councilman includes possible sexual harassment of youth, sheriff says
Ryan Shiner
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The criminal investigation into Sedalia councilman who resigned last week may include sexual harassment of a juvenile, according to a Monday email from Pettis County Sheriff Brad Anders.
Former Ward 1 Councilman Tom Oldham stepped down on Thursday after “serious allegations” were brought against him, the City of Sedalia wrote in a Friday social media post. The city did not elaborate on the allegations in the post or in communications with ABC 17 News.
Anders said on Friday that the investigation “involves the extraction of data from electronic devices,” so there is no timeline for when possible charges could be filed.
Anders wrote on Monday that the initial complaint involved harassing a youth.
“Initial complaint was harassment of a juvenile including a possible sexual variable. Investigation will take time with data dumps and forensic analysis,” he wrote.
Oldham was recently reelected to his seat during the April 8 election. He defeated Albert Reine Jr. 312 votes to 236.
A city spokesperson told ABC 17 News in a Friday email that the city will follow a state statute allowing the mayor to make an appointment to the seat. Whoever is selected will “serve until the next available regular municipal April election,” the statute says.