Former local deputy accused of assault
March 18, 2020
Sheila Carlo Harris
A Fairview man is accused of sexually assaulting a victim during his time as a law enforcement officer in Barry County. The incident allegedly happened on September 16, 2019.
According to a February 5 affidavit of probable cause statement issued by Sergeant Jason B. Trammell, of the Missouri Highway Patrol, Barry County Deputy Meng Yang, 21, of Fairview, is accused of inappropriate sexual contact with a victim after he and a fellow deputy responded to an emergency call in the Washburn area on September 16, 2019.
According to the Highway Patrol statement, the female victim accused Yang of touching her in a sexual manner while attempting to revive her from the effects of a drug overdose.
It goes on to state Yang's body camera was secured and reviewed, and there was a 17-second darkened portion of the footage that was a source of concern. The victim alleged that, during that time, Yang had touched her inappropriately.
The body cam revealed the victim was initially unresponsive and lying facedown on the threshold of the bathroom door when Yang and the other deputy arrived on the scene. Yang attempted to revive her by kneeling near her head and rubbing between the victim's shoulder blades with rubber-gloved hands. After several attempts at resuscitation, the victim responded by moving and nodding her head yes when asked if she could hear, according to the report.
When interviewed by investigators with the highway patrol, Deputy Yang was given the opportunity to explain the darkened portion of the body cam footage but gave conflicting stories to investigators. The probable cause statement says he first indicated that he had inadvertently covered the body camera - attached to the right side of his shirt - with his left wrist while attempting to apply extra pressure between the victim's shoulder blades with his right hand.
Yang was then shown a screenshot of the footage which showed his hand initially covering, remaining, then being removed from the camera during the darkened portion of the video.
When confronted with the screenshot, Yang allegedly changed his story multiple times, finally stating that he had covered the camera so that anyone seeing the camera footage would not think he was sexually molesting her.
Yang is no longer employed with the Barry County Sheriff’s Department. When asked about the incident, Barry County Sheriff Gary Davis had no comment.
Yang is charged with sodomy in the first degree and sexual abuse in the first degree.
Yang is represented by attorney Dee Wampler, III, of Springfield. The case is being prosecuted by Barry County Prosecuting Attorney Amy Boxx. A bond was issued for $50,000 cash by Judge Robert Foulke on March 11. A bond hearing was held on March 12. There are no scheduled hearings at this point.
Sheila Carlo Harris
A Fairview man is accused of sexually assaulting a victim during his time as a law enforcement officer in Barry County. The incident allegedly happened on September 16, 2019.
According to a February 5 affidavit of probable cause statement issued by Sergeant Jason B. Trammell, of the Missouri Highway Patrol, Barry County Deputy Meng Yang, 21, of Fairview, is accused of inappropriate sexual contact with a victim after he and a fellow deputy responded to an emergency call in the Washburn area on September 16, 2019.
According to the Highway Patrol statement, the female victim accused Yang of touching her in a sexual manner while attempting to revive her from the effects of a drug overdose.
It goes on to state Yang's body camera was secured and reviewed, and there was a 17-second darkened portion of the footage that was a source of concern. The victim alleged that, during that time, Yang had touched her inappropriately.
The body cam revealed the victim was initially unresponsive and lying facedown on the threshold of the bathroom door when Yang and the other deputy arrived on the scene. Yang attempted to revive her by kneeling near her head and rubbing between the victim's shoulder blades with rubber-gloved hands. After several attempts at resuscitation, the victim responded by moving and nodding her head yes when asked if she could hear, according to the report.
When interviewed by investigators with the highway patrol, Deputy Yang was given the opportunity to explain the darkened portion of the body cam footage but gave conflicting stories to investigators. The probable cause statement says he first indicated that he had inadvertently covered the body camera - attached to the right side of his shirt - with his left wrist while attempting to apply extra pressure between the victim's shoulder blades with his right hand.
Yang was then shown a screenshot of the footage which showed his hand initially covering, remaining, then being removed from the camera during the darkened portion of the video.
When confronted with the screenshot, Yang allegedly changed his story multiple times, finally stating that he had covered the camera so that anyone seeing the camera footage would not think he was sexually molesting her.
Yang is no longer employed with the Barry County Sheriff’s Department. When asked about the incident, Barry County Sheriff Gary Davis had no comment.
Yang is charged with sodomy in the first degree and sexual abuse in the first degree.
Yang is represented by attorney Dee Wampler, III, of Springfield. The case is being prosecuted by Barry County Prosecuting Attorney Amy Boxx. A bond was issued for $50,000 cash by Judge Robert Foulke on March 11. A bond hearing was held on March 12. There are no scheduled hearings at this point.
