Columbia business owner arrested, charged on suspicion of child molestation

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The owner of Kliethermes Homes and Remodeling was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of first-degree child molestation.

Police arrested Cale J. Kliethermes on Thursday, and he was charged with first-degree child molestation, three counts of endangering the welfare of a child and first-degree sexual misconduct. The arrest was made after an investigation, said Columbia Police Department spokesman Jeff Pitts.

Police conducted an interview with two people who said Kliethermes sexually touched them as early as 2012, when they were juveniles, according to the probable cause statement.

One victim said they were inappropriately touched by Kliethermes two different times in 2018. The victim also said Kliethermes exposed himself in April 2018 over a Facetime video chat.

Another victim told police they were about 12 years old when Kliethermes sexually touched them in September 2012, court documents said. Kliethermes allegedly touched the victim about 15 more times over the course of 2012 to 2016.

One of the victims said they texted Kliethermes about the assault in July, and Kliethermes admitted to sexually touching the victim, court documents said.

Police said Kliethermes could have assaulted up to four victims.

Kliethermes was booked into jail at 7:42 Thursday evening and is being held in the Boone County Jail on no bond, according to online jail records.