Mid-Missouri police officer charged with sex crimes against minor

A mid-Missouri police officer has been charged after investigators accused him of having sex with a minor.

According to court documents, John Rollins, 34, of New Franklin, was charged in Moniteau County with felony first-degree sodomy on Thursday.

The Moniteau County Sheriff’s Office said it started investigating Rollins in July after deputies got a report of a possible sexual assault that involved a minor.

Investigators said the alleged assault occurred between January 2014 and August 2016 and might have happened in Moniteau and Cole counties.

After a preliminary investigation was completed, the Sheriff’s Office asked the Missouri State Technical Assistance Team for help with the investigation.

The S.T.A.T. team later turned over its final report to the Moniteau County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for charges after it interviewed witnesses in several jurisdictions.

New Franklin Police Chief Mike Wise told ABC 17 News on Wednesday that Rollins was recently released from his commission.

Rollins was expected to return to the department in a reserve role following his year-long deployment to Iraq.

The Missouri Department of Public Safety confirms Rollins is also commissioned with the Fayette Police Department and Howard County Sheriff’s Office.

ABC 17 News has called both departments to find out about Rollins’ status.

ABC 17 News will update this news story once new information is released.