Former Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Detective Pleads Guilty to Federal Civil Rights Charges

ST. LOUIS, MO—Scott Edwards pled guilty to violating the Constitutional rights of five women through acts of aggravated sexual abuse and sexual contact while serving as their “drug court tracker” when the women were participants in the Lincoln County Drug Court program. The crimes occurred beginning in February 2009 through November 2010.

According to court documents, Edwards was a detective for the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department and served as a drug court tracker for the Lincoln County Drug Court until his termination in December 2010. The Lincoln County Drug Court is a program to which drug offenders are sentenced for the purpose of obtaining intense treatment, counseling, and rehabilitation. The Lincoln County Drug Court contracts with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office to employ law enforcement officers to serve as part-time drug court trackers who monitor the whereabouts and curfews of drug court participants as needed. While engaged as a drug court tracker, both on duty and off duty, Edwards abused his position of authority and engaged in sexual acts with five female drug court participants without their consent. These sexual acts resulted in bodily injury to one or more of the victims and included aggravated sexual abuse and sexual contact with the female victims.

Scott Edwards, Troy, Missouri, pled guilty to two felony counts of deprivation of rights under color of law, including aggravated sexual abuse; one felony count of deprivation of rights under color of law, including kidnapping; and two misdemeanor counts of deprivation of rights under color of law, including sexual contact before United States District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig. Sentencing has been set for October 18, 2012.

The three felony counts carry a range of punishment from one year up to life imprisonment. In determining the actual sentences, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.

This case was investigated by the St. Louis Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Troy, Missouri Police Department, with the assistance of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Hal Goldsmith and Department of Justice Civil Rights Division Trial Attorney Fara Gold are handling the case for the United States.