One released, another arrested in child sex case
, Richmond News Staff
11-17-2009
Authorities over the weekend released one man implicated in a major sex crimes case, clearing him of all charges. In the same span, they arrested a Mohler family relative in Florida.
Larry Kidd, 55, Kansas City, said this weekend after his release he believes he was taken into custody because he’s known some of the five men arrested last week for sexually assaulting five girls and a boy within their family between the ages of 5 and 11.
Police told Kidd if they found nothing connecting him firmly to the crime, they would let him go, according to his statement. He said they told him he would even be taken right back to his home.
He was released less than 24 hours after his arrest.
Kidd would’ve joined Burrell E. Mohler Sr., 77, Independence and his four sons – Burrell E. Mohler Jr., 53, Independence; Jared L. Mohler, 48, Columbia; Roland N. Mohler, 47, Bates City; and David A. Mohler, 52, Lamoni, Ia. – in the allegations including forced sodomy with household objects, bestiality, “mock” wedding ceremonies between the girls and their three uncles and a 12-year-old girl forced to have an abortion.
Darrel W. Mohler, 72, Silver Springs, Fla., was told Saturday appearing before Judge Frances King in Florida that he faced two forcible rape charges in Lafayette County. Mohler is in custody in Marion County, Fla., with bond set at $40,000. King told Mohler he is not eligible for a public defender at this time.
Mohler also said he “did not know” if he would waive extradition to Missouri to face the charges, according to an Associated Press report.
The probable cause statement against Mohler accuses him of raping two of the five girls referenced as victims in this case by authorities. The statement goes on to say the rapes occurred in 1984 in Lafayette County. Statements from Lafayette County Sheriff Kerrick Alumbaugh and the probable cause statement against the original five Mohler men state the abuses the men are being tried for occurred between 1988 and 1995.
Mohler said he has lived in Silver Springs since 1984, and according to the Associated Press, that “If I was there long enough to rape (the children), I would’ve known about it.”
Mohler, a brother to Mohler Sr., had previously called the 14 felony counts his brother and four nephews face “unspeakable.” He has said he lost touch with his brother years ago, and only hears from his nephews occasionally. Mohler said after serving in the U.S.Navy and as a 10-year Marion County corrections officer, he had been an electrical contractor in Key West.
Authorities have placed Mohler under suicide watch since being taken into custody.
The original five Mohler family members arrested face felony sentences ranging from one to 30 years imprisonment for each of the various counts against them.
The Associated Press contributed additional reporting to this report.
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