Kirksville case worker charged with sexual assault
Elizabeth Koch
Issue date: 2/18/10 Section: News
Kirksville resident Joseph Huegerich was charged Feb. 8 with a Class C felony of deviant sexual assault for allegedly sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl.
Huegerich, 25, was the victim's caseworker from Learning Opportunities.
According to the probable cause statement, Huegerich picked up the victim from her home to take her to Moberly Area Community College, where they observed a statistics class. After leaving MACC, Huegerich drove the victim to the Big Creek Conservation parking lot on Rainbow Basin Trail, where he reportedly sexually assaulted the girl.
Huegerich said nothing was forced upon the victim and the incident was consensual, according to the probable cause statement. He was placed in the Adair County Jail after being arrested and was released when he posted 10 percent of a $25,000 cash-only bond.
Adair County Prosecutor Mark Williams said the preliminary hearing for the case is scheduled for today. If probable cause is found, the case will move to the Circuit Court.
Kirksville Police Chief Jim Hughes said the case is active, and some investigation still is taking place.
"We investigated it, determined that there was probable cause to believe that the crime as reported had occurred, and an arrest was made at that point," Hughes said.
Allegations of sexual assault aren't uncommon in Kirksville, and many times the suspect is a person the victim trusts, he said.
Wendy Hays, executive director of Learning Opportunities, released a public statement Monday.
"On Monday, Feb. 8, we learned one of our Kirksville employees had been charged with deviant sexual assault. We want you to know we accept the responsibility of providing quality services very seriously. We also acknowledge that actions by all of our staff, good or bad, are a reflection of how our agency is judged by all our stakeholders. We are fully cooperating with the police in the investigation of this
allegation. The staff person that has been implicated is no longer employed by our agency."
The statement also said that every employee of Learning Opportunities receives a background screening through the Missouri Disqualification List and training in abuse, neglect, positive behavior supports and cultural diversity.
Learning Opportunities/Quality Works, Inc., provides 14 northeast Missouri employment and community services in 14 counties, such as helping adults become self-caring and active members of their community or helping students prepare to enter the workforce and transition out of high school.
Huegerich, 25, was the victim's caseworker from Learning Opportunities.
According to the probable cause statement, Huegerich picked up the victim from her home to take her to Moberly Area Community College, where they observed a statistics class. After leaving MACC, Huegerich drove the victim to the Big Creek Conservation parking lot on Rainbow Basin Trail, where he reportedly sexually assaulted the girl.
Huegerich said nothing was forced upon the victim and the incident was consensual, according to the probable cause statement. He was placed in the Adair County Jail after being arrested and was released when he posted 10 percent of a $25,000 cash-only bond.
Adair County Prosecutor Mark Williams said the preliminary hearing for the case is scheduled for today. If probable cause is found, the case will move to the Circuit Court.
Kirksville Police Chief Jim Hughes said the case is active, and some investigation still is taking place.
"We investigated it, determined that there was probable cause to believe that the crime as reported had occurred, and an arrest was made at that point," Hughes said.
Allegations of sexual assault aren't uncommon in Kirksville, and many times the suspect is a person the victim trusts, he said.
Wendy Hays, executive director of Learning Opportunities, released a public statement Monday.
"On Monday, Feb. 8, we learned one of our Kirksville employees had been charged with deviant sexual assault. We want you to know we accept the responsibility of providing quality services very seriously. We also acknowledge that actions by all of our staff, good or bad, are a reflection of how our agency is judged by all our stakeholders. We are fully cooperating with the police in the investigation of this
allegation. The staff person that has been implicated is no longer employed by our agency."
The statement also said that every employee of Learning Opportunities receives a background screening through the Missouri Disqualification List and training in abuse, neglect, positive behavior supports and cultural diversity.
Learning Opportunities/Quality Works, Inc., provides 14 northeast Missouri employment and community services in 14 counties, such as helping adults become self-caring and active members of their community or helping students prepare to enter the workforce and transition out of high school.
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