GRAIN VALLEY, Mo. — A former Grain Valley police officer has been charged with several child sex crimes after a Missouri State Highway Patrol investigation. 

August P. Gildehaus, 27, faces nine felony charges, including first-degree sodomy or attempted sodomy, sexual exploitation of a minor, four counts of second-degree statutory sodomy, and three counts of second-degree statutory rape.

According to court records, on March 6, 2023, the Grain Valley police chief asked MSHP to investigate allegations of a city police officer engaging in sex acts with a minor in 2022 and early 2023. 

Records show the day before the request, Grain Valley police received a call for a missing child under the age of 17.

When the missing teen returned home, they told their parents they had been sneaking out of the house to have sex with adult men they had met in online chatrooms. The victim identified one of the men as a police officer. 

According to a probable cause statement from MSHP, Gildehaus used a pseudonym while chatting with the victim on platforms like Discord and Omgele. According to charging documents, Gildehaus was aware the victim was under 17 and proceeded to engage in conversations that were sexual in nature.

When detectives showed the victim the Grain Valley Police Department Facebook page, the victim identified Gildehaus. Additional details about the defendant were also disclosed by the victim during a forensic interview.

Officials from the Grain Valley Police Department originally said Gildehaus had been place on paid administrative leave. The City of Grain Valley sent FOX4 this statement on Gildehaus’ employment status Wednesday evening. 

“The Grain Valley Police Department holds our officers and civilian staff to the highest standards of ethics and integrity. We expect that the actions of our staff in their professional and personal lives do not discredit the public trust put in the agency.

Our department was made aware of allegations involving a department member and we turned the investigation over to a separate and independent agency, the Missouri State Highway Patrol. We are thankful for their assistance in conducting a full and impartial investigation into the matter. We take any criminal activity seriously and therefore cooperated fully in the investigation.

We have followed the rules and processes as obligated by the Police Officers Bill of Rights, which is set by state statue, to determine the status of an employee. As of today, the officer charged with the offenses is no longer employed with the City of Grain Valley. We are committed to the oaths of office for law enforcement officers as well as the standards the citizens of Grain Valley expect from our department.

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.

As we embark on the future, we encourage the community to bring forth concerns as we enhance professionalism at the Grain Valley Police Department. Any further inquiries regarding this specific investigation should be directed to the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office.”

Gildehaus’ Attorney John O’Connor told FOX4 his client posted bond Wednesday.