Charging documents detail funeral director’s arrest for assault on a minor

Jefferson City police say a well-known funeral director was arrested in Jefferson City Friday for assault on a minor.

Tyler Woods, 28, was arrested around 3 p.m. Friday. He is currently in the custody of the Cole County Sheriff’s Department.

ABC17 News obtained a copy of the probable cause statement Saturday afternoon.

According to the statement, police responded to an alcohol offense call on November 12 for a minor.

Police say when they were interviewing the mother of the minor, she said her daughter had worked for the funeral director on November 6 and had come home drunk afterward.

When police talked to the minor, she told them Woods had bought alcohol and made monetary bets with her to see if she could finish the alcohol.

The minor said she eventually passed out due to intoxication, and when she woke up she discovered that Woods was touching her inappropriately.

She said she pushed him away, but he continued touching her. She said she demanded to be taken home.

The probable cause statement indicates he took her home and left.

Police say they also spoke with a witness who said they spoke with Woods on the phone about providing the minor with alcohol. The witness said he took full responsibility for it.

According to documents, Woods has been charged with four felonies.

He’s been charged with endangering the welfare of a child, first-degree sexual abuse, second-degree child molestation, and supplying liquor to a minor.