Columbia businessman pleads guilty to child molestation, endangerment

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man is set to be sentenced in July after he pleaded guilty Friday to four felonies including child molestation and child endangerment.

Cale J. Kliethermes, 43, faces between five and 16 years in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree child molestation, two counts of attempted child endangerment and one count of sexual misconduct involving a child under 15, said Jessica Caledera, a Boone County assistant prosecutor. Prosecutors dismissed a separate attempted child endangerment count as part of the plea deal, she said.

Kliethermes, the owner of Kliethermes Homes and Remodeling, was charged in 2019. Police conducted an interview with two victims who said Kliethermes sexually touched them as early as 2012, when they were juveniles, according to the probable cause statement filed in his case.

Kliethermes remained in the Boone County Jail on Monday. His attorney, David Kelly, did not respond to a message seeking comment.