BREAKING NEWS...
Former Cassville teacher's aide arrested for child sex crimes
May 29, 2024
By Jason Wert, [email protected]
A former teacher’s aide has been arrested in Barry County charged with child sex crimes.
Makensie Kaytlann Koehler, of Cassville, is facing one count of first degree child molestation, possession of child pornography, and incest. The child molestation charge is a class A felony in the state of Missouri, meaning a possible life sentence upon conviction.
According to court documents, an investigation into Koehler’s behavior with an underage child began in March 2024. The investigators discovered Koehler having a Snapchat account under the screen name “makensiek” and executed a search warrant on the messages sent through the account.
An investigator with the Barry County Sheriff’s Office downloaded the Snapchat information onto an SD card and submitted it to the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force for analysis.
Two days after submitting the card, a detective with the task force informed the Barry County Sheriff’s Office of finding sexual abuse material in the account, specifically eight images of suspected child pornography uploaded on four different dates.
The photographs show a sexual act with a child below the age of puberty.
Investigators also say the victim has a “familial relationship” to Koehler, which makes the crime an “aggravated sexual offense” in the state of Missouri.
The police report says the victim told investigators they are afraid of Koehler because of her actions.
Barry County Associate Circuit Judge Robert Foulke recused himself from the case, stating he wanted to make sure there was no “appearance of impropriety.” The case was then sent to the Circuit’s Presiding Judge, David Cole, who assigned the case to Stone County Associate Circuit Judge Matt Selby.
Cassville School District Superintendent Merlyn Johnson told the Barry County Advertiser Koehler is no longer in the employ of the district.
“The District requires that all employees go through a thorough Missouri State Highway Patrol background check process before hired,” Johnson said. “The findings from Ms. Koehler’s background check produced no areas of concern. At this time, the situation involving Ms. Koehler is a law enforcement matter.”
Koehler is being held without bond.
Makensie Kaytlann Koehler, of Cassville, is facing one count of first degree child molestation, possession of child pornography, and incest. The child molestation charge is a class A felony in the state of Missouri, meaning a possible life sentence upon conviction.
According to court documents, an investigation into Koehler’s behavior with an underage child began in March 2024. The investigators discovered Koehler having a Snapchat account under the screen name “makensiek” and executed a search warrant on the messages sent through the account.
An investigator with the Barry County Sheriff’s Office downloaded the Snapchat information onto an SD card and submitted it to the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force for analysis.
Two days after submitting the card, a detective with the task force informed the Barry County Sheriff’s Office of finding sexual abuse material in the account, specifically eight images of suspected child pornography uploaded on four different dates.
The photographs show a sexual act with a child below the age of puberty.
Investigators also say the victim has a “familial relationship” to Koehler, which makes the crime an “aggravated sexual offense” in the state of Missouri.
The police report says the victim told investigators they are afraid of Koehler because of her actions.
Barry County Associate Circuit Judge Robert Foulke recused himself from the case, stating he wanted to make sure there was no “appearance of impropriety.” The case was then sent to the Circuit’s Presiding Judge, David Cole, who assigned the case to Stone County Associate Circuit Judge Matt Selby.
Cassville School District Superintendent Merlyn Johnson told the Barry County Advertiser Koehler is no longer in the employ of the district.
“The District requires that all employees go through a thorough Missouri State Highway Patrol background check process before hired,” Johnson said. “The findings from Ms. Koehler’s background check produced no areas of concern. At this time, the situation involving Ms. Koehler is a law enforcement matter.”
Koehler is being held without bond.
