Legislative aide arrested at Capitol for alleged enticement of 14-year-old

UPDATE: Ballmann worked as a legislative aide for Representative Mark Matthiesen (R-Maryland Heights) before his arrest.

Ballmann was arrested at his place of work, according to a statement by Detective Tracy Perkins with the Boone County Sheriff’s Department.

Court documents say Ballmann allegedly committed the crimes of attempted enticement of a child and attempted sexual exploitation of a minor in the 200 block of Capital Avenue in Jefferson City. The address of the state capitol is 201 West Capital Avenue.

Rep. Matthiesen issued a statement Wednesday saying, “I am stunned and deeply concerned by Carter Ballmann’s arrest and the extremely serious nature of the criminal charge filed against him. While I think it’s important to allow the legal system to determine his guilt or innocence, I have made the immediate decision to end his employment with my office.

“I have provided complete cooperation with law enforcement in this matter and will continue to do so going forward. Out of respect for the ongoing investigation and the legal process, I will not comment further.”

Ballmann is accused of attempted to entice a 14-year-old girl to “sneak out of her house for the purpose of engaging in sexual conduct,” according to court documents.

The same documents said Ballmann allegedly asked the 14-year-old decoy “to send nude images of herself” to Ballmann’s phone, and that he admitted to the undercover deputy that he had “engaged sexually” with another minor who was the same age as the decoy two years ago.

ORIGINAL: Boone County deputies arrested Carter Ballmann on Tuesday after he was accused of attempting to entice a child.

Deputies said Ballmann was arrested because he responded to a post made by an undercover decoy from the Task Force who was pretending to be a 14-year-old girl.

Officers said that conversations were exchanged and Ballmann tried to persuade the “child” to sneak out of her home and asked for her to send nude pictures.

A search warrant was served at Ballmann’s house and he was later arrested. His bond was set at $100,000.

Ballmann faces possible charges of attempted child enticement and attempted sexual exploitation of a child.