Mo. House member indicted on sex assault charge

[almaty 19]

JEFFERSON CITY — Missouri Rep. Scott Muschany, R-Frontenac, was indicted Wednesday in connection with the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl early in the morning on May 17, hours after this year's legislative session ended.

The alleged victim is the daughter of a state employee. The girl's mother and Muschany — who is married and has two children — were involved romantically, the woman said.

A Cole County grand jury returned an indictment charging Muschany with the Class C felony of "deviate sexual assault." The indictment identifies the victim only by initials. It says that on May 17, Muschany "had deviate sexual intercourse" with the girl, "knowing that he did so without" her consent.

The charge carries a potential prison term of up to seven years and a fine of up to $5,000.

Muschany, 42, was booked into the Cole County Jail at 2:50 p.m. and was released after posting $5,000 bail.

Muschany was widely perceived as a rising conservative voice in the state Republican Party, but he surprised many by announcing in late May that he was not running again in November. At the time he said he wanted to spend more time with his family.

Muschany's attorney, Robert Haar of Haar and Woods in St. Louis, told the Post-Dispatch that "the allegations are false, and we believe the jury will conclude they are false."

Muschany could not be reached for comment. He has turned down several interview requests since June, when the Post-Dispatch first began asking about the allegations of sexual assault.

On June 2, a reporter asked if he wanted to hear details in a police report about the incident. Muschany said: "I'm not interested in any details. That's just crazy." The next day, Muschany told the Post-Dispatch, "There is no investigation." He did not return subsequent phone calls.

On June 17, reached in person at his home, he declined to answer questions and threatened to call police if a reporter didn't leave his property.

The girl's mother, who owns the Jefferson City house listed on the police report as the scene of the incident, confirmed that Muschany was in the house on the night of the incident. She declined to comment further.

Last Friday, the father of the girl filed a motion for temporary child custody in Cole County Circuit Court. In the filing he argued that the mother's "believed paramour was believed/alleged to have had inappropriate sexual contact with one of the minor children."

The document, which does not identify Muschany, alleges that the mother "did admit that the incident did take place, including her witnessing same."

The court filing also alleges that the mother originally "denied such allegations" to law enforcement before later admitting that "she had lied."

The mother has not responded to the father's assertions, according to the court file.

The grand jury indictment lists eight witnesses for the state, including most of the family members of the victim and Jefferson City police Detective Lee Tubbesing.

Tubbesing did not return calls seeking comment.

Cole County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Richardson could not be reached for comment. He had previously declined to discuss the case.

Jefferson City Police Chief Roger Schroeder said that a narrative connected to the police report describes the details of the alleged assault, but that it was part of the investigative file and would be kept secret for now.

The girl's father told the Post-Dispatch that his daughter told a sibling about the alleged assault a few days after it happened, and that the sibling told the father on May 26. He called the child abuse hot line the next day.

"I believe what my daughter told me," the father said.

According to documents obtained by the Post-Dispatch, the state Children's Services division investigated the reported sexual assault and issued a preliminary finding that "substantiated" the claim. Under Missouri law, a substantiated claim means that investigators found a "preponderance of evidence" that the assault took place, said Jan Carter of the Department of Social Services. Muschany has the right to appeal that claim, Carter said.

The girl's 17-year-old brother told the Post-Dispatch that his mother told him she has known Muschany for about two years and that they had been seeing each other romantically for about a year. The woman is a former House employee who now works in a different department in state government.

The Post-Dispatch does not typically identify victims of sexual assault. The newspaper is also withholding the names of the girl's mother, father and brother, who share her last name. All three family members spoke to the Post-Dispatch without promises of anonymity.

Muschany was first elected to the state House of Representatives in 2004 representing District 87, which covers portions of St. Louis County including Frontenac, Brentwood and Warson Woods.

Muschany was chairman of three House committees. In 2006, Muschany was a co-sponsor of legislation that toughened sex offender laws.

He ran for majority floor leader in the House last year but lost to state Rep. Steve Tilley, R-Perryville.

On May 20, three days after the Legislature finished its 2008 session, Muschany announced he was ending his re-election bid to spend more time with his family. At the time, Muschany said it was a decision he and his wife had made in early January, but he kept it from his colleagues so he wouldn't be a "lame duck" during the session.

The owner and founder of engineering firm Trileaf Corporation, Muschany served as a board member of the Pregnancy Resource Center of Greater St. Louis. He and his wife both were licensed as foster parents with the Division of Family Services, according to his legislative biography in the state's official manual, known as the "blue book."

Several lawmakers told the Post-Dispatch during the paper's investigation of the case that they were shocked that Muschany could be the subject of a sexual assault investigation.

State Rep. Chuck Portwood, R-Ballwin, said he was surprised. He said he knew Muschany and the woman were "good friends."

Rep. Ryan Silvey, a Republican from Kansas City, also said he was "shocked" by the allegations.

Silvey and other state representatives and legislative staffers had been with Muschany at a post-session party the night of May 16, after the legislative session ended. The party was at the home of Supreme Court Clerk Tom Simon.

Rep. Jim Lembke, R-Mehlville, was also at the party. He said allegations that Muschany was involved in any sort of sex assault "would be very shocking" to him.

Muschany is the second Republican with a connection to the Capitol to be indicted on sex charges in Cole County in the last three months. In May, the former chief of staff to Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder was indicted on misdemeanor charges of providing pornography to a minor.

Eric Feltner was engaged in explicit conversations with a person he thought was a 13-year-old girl, but it was an undercover police officer, according to the probable cause statement in his case. Feltner is scheduled to be arraigned in his case today.

[zqt3344 21]

Rather sick would you say not! How stupid can you be!

JEFFERSON CITY — Missouri Rep. Scott Muschany, R-Frontenac, was indicted Wednesday in connection with the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl early in the morning on May 17, hours after this year's legislative session ended.

The alleged victim is the daughter of a state employee. The girl's mother and Muschany — who is married and has two children — were involved romantically, the woman said.

A Cole County grand jury returned an indictment charging Muschany with the Class C felony of "deviate sexual assault." The indictment identifies the victim only by initials. It says that on May 17, Muschany "had deviate sexual intercourse" with the girl, "knowing that he did so without" her consent.

The charge carries a potential prison term of up to seven years and a fine of up to $5,000.

Muschany, 42, was booked into the Cole County Jail at 2:50 p.m. and was released after posting $5,000 bail.

Muschany was widely perceived as a rising conservative voice in the state Republican Party, but he surprised many by announcing in late May that he was not running again in November. At the time he said he wanted to spend more time with his family.

Muschany's attorney, Robert Haar of Haar and Woods in St. Louis, told the Post-Dispatch that "the allegations are false, and we believe the jury will conclude they are false."

Muschany could not be reached for comment. He has turned down several interview requests since June, when the Post-Dispatch first began asking about the allegations of sexual assault.

On June 2, a reporter asked if he wanted to hear details in a police report about the incident. Muschany said: "I'm not interested in any details. That's just crazy." The next day, Muschany told the Post-Dispatch, "There is no investigation." He did not return subsequent phone calls.

On June 17, reached in person at his home, he declined to answer questions and threatened to call police if a reporter didn't leave his property.

The girl's mother, who owns the Jefferson City house listed on the police report as the scene of the incident, confirmed that Muschany was in the house on the night of the incident. She declined to comment further.

Last Friday, the father of the girl filed a motion for temporary child custody in Cole County Circuit Court. In the filing he argued that the mother's "believed paramour was believed/alleged to have had inappropriate sexual contact with one of the minor children."

The document, which does not identify Muschany, alleges that the mother "did admit that the incident did take place, including her witnessing same."

The court filing also alleges that the mother originally "denied such allegations" to law enforcement before later admitting that "she had lied."

The mother has not responded to the father's assertions, according to the court file.

The grand jury indictment lists eight witnesses for the state, including most of the family members of the victim and Jefferson City police Detective Lee Tubbesing.

Tubbesing did not return calls seeking comment.

Cole County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Richardson could not be reached for comment. He had previously declined to discuss the case.

Jefferson City Police Chief Roger Schroeder said that a narrative connected to the police report describes the details of the alleged assault, but that it was part of the investigative file and would be kept secret for now.

The girl's father told the Post-Dispatch that his daughter told a sibling about the alleged assault a few days after it happened, and that the sibling told the father on May 26. He called the child abuse hot line the next day.

"I believe what my daughter told me," the father said.

According to documents obtained by the Post-Dispatch, the state Children's Services division investigated the reported sexual assault and issued a preliminary finding that "substantiated" the claim. Under Missouri law, a substantiated claim means that investigators found a "preponderance of evidence" that the assault took place, said Jan Carter of the Department of Social Services. Muschany has the right to appeal that claim, Carter said.

The girl's 17-year-old brother told the Post-Dispatch that his mother told him she has known Muschany for about two years and that they had been seeing each other romantically for about a year. The woman is a former House employee who now works in a different department in state government.

The Post-Dispatch does not typically identify victims of sexual assault. The newspaper is also withholding the names of the girl's mother, father and brother, who share her last name. All three family members spoke to the Post-Dispatch without promises of anonymity.

Muschany was first elected to the state House of Representatives in 2004 representing District 87, which covers portions of St. Louis County including Frontenac, Brentwood and Warson Woods.

Muschany was chairman of three House committees. In 2006, Muschany was a co-sponsor of legislation that toughened sex offender laws.

He ran for majority floor leader in the House last year but lost to state Rep. Steve Tilley, R-Perryville.

On May 20, three days after the Legislature finished its 2008 session, Muschany announced he was ending his re-election bid to spend more time with his family. At the time, Muschany said it was a decision he and his wife had made in early January, but he kept it from his colleagues so he wouldn't be a "lame duck" during the session.

The owner and founder of engineering firm Trileaf Corporation, Muschany served as a board member of the Pregnancy Resource Center of Greater St. Louis. He and his wife both were licensed as foster parents with the Division of Family Services, according to his legislative biography in the state's official manual, known as the "blue book."

Several lawmakers told the Post-Dispatch during the paper's investigation of the case that they were shocked that Muschany could be the subject of a sexual assault investigation.

State Rep. Chuck Portwood, R-Ballwin, said he was surprised. He said he knew Muschany and the woman were "good friends."

Rep. Ryan Silvey, a Republican from Kansas City, also said he was "shocked" by the allegations.

Silvey and other state representatives and legislative staffers had been with Muschany at a post-session party the night of May 16, after the legislative session ended. The party was at the home of Supreme Court Clerk Tom Simon.

Rep. Jim Lembke, R-Mehlville, was also at the party. He said allegations that Muschany was involved in any sort of sex assault "would be very shocking" to him.

Muschany is the second Republican with a connection to the Capitol to be indicted on sex charges in Cole County in the last three months. In May, the former chief of staff to Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder was indicted on misdemeanor charges of providing pornography to a minor.

Eric Feltner was engaged in explicit conversations with a person he thought was a 13-year-old girl, but it was an undercover police officer, according to the probable cause statement in his case. Feltner is scheduled to be arraigned in his case today.

[almaty 19]

i agree brother..i remember him a few years ago, being a major player in missouri gov't and some thought he could be gov. or senator...

[Niels Bohr 72]

I almost fell into the trap of going out with a 14 year old. My god, she looks like she was 21!!!!

[Nagishkaw 510]

Disgusting.

[Niels Bohr 72]

I almost fell into the trap of going out with a 14 year old. My god, she looks like she was 21!!!!

This was before I got married. The story goes...

Many kids those age wants to be with an older man. Kids nowadays are stupid too. So as the adult who goes out with them.

I didn't trust her, so I asked her age. Well, you know what instead of 21 she's only 14 or 15 I think. It's just wrong.

[mRx 16]

Disgusting.

Agreed, and since he is a state rep, he probably knows the right people, and will get off with a slap on the wrist.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Lovely people we elect into government. Who background checks these guys...

[ready4ONE 5,400]

Rather sick would you say not! How stupid can you be!

JEFFERSON CITY — Missouri Rep. Scott Muschany, R-Frontenac, was indicted Wednesday in connection with the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl early in the morning on May 17, hours after this year's legislative session ended.

You say 'sick' I say 'Republican.'

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I didn't trust her, so I asked her age.

Yeah and kids that age will tell you their real age if you only ask

That's like strippers who believe they can tell a cop by asking "yer not a cop are ya?".

People lie.

[amiquechu 0]

I didn't trust her, so I asked her age.

Yeah and kids that age will tell you their real age if you only ask

That's like strippers who believe they can tell a cop by asking "yer not a cop are ya?".

People lie.

Eric never lies.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I didn't trust her, so I asked her age.

Yeah and kids that age will tell you their real age if you only ask

That's like strippers who believe they can tell a cop by asking "yer not a cop are ya?".

People lie.

Eric never lies.

When you're as hung as he is.... you don't have to

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Terrible.

That's one brand of family values that this country doesn't need.

[almaty 19]

I almost fell into the trap of going out with a 14 year old. My god, she looks like she was 21!!!!

wow, i dated a 12 year old once..well, i was 12 also..

[*JG* 2]

Lovely people we elect into government. Who background checks these guys...

Always wonder this too.