6th Man Charged in Mo. Sex Abuse Case

Authorities Say 6th Family Member Was Involved in Child Sex Abuse Dating to 1988

(AP)  A man who had called child sex abuse allegations against his brother and four nephews "repulsive" was charged Friday with raping two children, and Missouri authorities said they expected more charges against the family in the case.

Darrel Wayne Mohler, 72, of Silver Springs, Fla., was charged in Lafayette County, Mo., with two counts of forcible rape stemming from 1986, according to court documents. He was in custody Friday night at the Marion County Jail in Ocala, Fla., according to Kim Krause with the jail's classifications division.

Earlier Friday evening, Lafayette County Sheriff Kerrick Alumbaugh had urged Mohler to turn himself in "so I can talk to him."

Five other members of the Mohler family were charged earlier this week with several felonies, including forcible sodomy, rape with a child younger than 12 and use of a child in a sexual performance.

When asked to comment on the case Thursday before he was charged, Darrel W. Mohler told The Associated Press from his Florida home that he found the reports of child abuse "unspeakable."

"I can't think of words that would put this in perspective. I find it repulsive if it's true," he said.

Mohler said he was a disabled veteran suffering from various ailments, including lung disease. He did not return phone calls to his home seeking comment on the charges Friday before his arrest.

The other men charged in the case are Darrel W. Mohler's brother, Burrell Edward Mohler Sr., 77, of Independence and his four adult sons: Burrell Edward Mohler Jr., 53, of Independence; Jared Leroy Mohler, 48, of Columbia; Roland Neil Mohler, 47, of Bates City; and David A. Mohler, 52, of Lamoni, Iowa.

The probable cause statement against Darrel W. Mohler accuses him of raping two children between the ages of 5 and 9 at an abandoned house in Bates City. The statement alleges that after Mohler left the children, Burrell Mohler Sr. came to the room and warned them to "be careful because waterbeds were known to pop and they might drown in their sleep."

Darrel W. Mohler said Thursday that he never had been close to his older brother Burrell and was "appalled by the allegations." He said he has a 16-year-old granddaughter "and that'd be like me messing with her, and the thought is repulsive. I'm glad I don't have that gene, God darn."

On Thursday, police also arrested a man they identified as an "associate" of the Mohler family and possible suspect, but did not charge him. He has been released.

The original complaint in the case includes allegations — of bestiality, forcing children into fake marriages with relatives and making an 11-year-old have an abortion — that date from 1988 to 1995. The Associated Press is not revealing details that could identify victims of sexual abuse.

The men have not entered pleas and did not have lawyers listed with the court clerk's office. The five Mohler men from Missouri have been held on cash bonds ranging from $30,000 to $75,000. Their next court hearing is Tuesday.

Alumbaugh also said Friday that a search on a 55-acre property formerly owned by family members was completed and that he expected additional charges against the suspects.

Alumbaugh had said earlier that investigators were focusing on the property outside Bates City, about 30 miles east of Kansas City, because there was "an indication that there are body or bodies in numerous locations." He did not elaborate.

Investigators also said they were searching for glass jars buried on the property and containing notes, written by children, about the alleged abuse. Adults allegedly told children to write down bad memories and bury them there and "the memories would go away," said Sgt. Collin Stosberg, spokesman for the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Neither Alumbaugh nor Stosberg would not comment about any evidence that may have been found in the search.

[seriously_disgusted]

I have not been able to find an article that states that one , some of or all of these men worked around children. Everything that I have read states that none of them worked around children. This is false! I know for a fact that one of them did, just this past summer (2009)! My children are involved in a program sponsored by Americorps. A daughter of this man ran or helped run it over the summer. Some how he became involved, whether the program coordinator knew about it or not. My children didn't tell me about this until my neighbors and I were visiting about it last week. The same man that was involved with children in this program was employed at the school I attend. After I said the man's name, one of my kids said that he had been at this program over the summer. What made it worse was that at the end of the summer, the kids are taken on a camping trip out of town in the woods. I am unsure why, but he went along. I asked if he had touched either of them. They said no, but also said that he tried giving all of the girls "piggyback" rides. I was absolutely sick! This man obviously has issues! Furthermore, posts that I have been reading on other sites have been outrageous. Obviously the police have some evidence to back up these claims of abuse, or they wouldn't be rounding up these men (from this family) across the country. Just because the names of the victims haven't been released shouldn't discredit them. I am anxious for Nancy Grace to start on this one!!!

[tomanyt]

Earlier ABC News reported that the allegations came from repressed memories.

[avi8torgrl]

In these cases, you should lose your rights, and an 'eye for an eye' should take effect, there is no more ihhumane crime as rape of a child, I have a shovel handle that would due just fine for their punishment, then I would wake it off so he couldnt ever, ever do it again to anyone or anything,, pure evil, how could a lawyer even defend them,

[mejordelahistoria]

I wonder if Fox News will say "look at the name of these guys, look at the names!!" and start salivating and raving against christians now......they should because according to them they are "fair and balanced".

[jxknowles]

There go six more 2012 GOP/Palin votes into the hoosegow. I suppose ACORN is behind this.

[saturns_seagoat]

One thing is for sure.The power of right is NOT in the hands of the people who pay the taxes.But I can tell this will be big money for all media types alike.The atttacks on morality from the left have left us with a gut feeling that this story is only the "Tip of the iceberg"for things like this.When you fight for the rights to abortion and all the sick and twisted perversions of the worst thirdworld slums you get what you fight for.If there were a hell?I am sure everyone who went there would find that horror reaches far,far beyond the imagination.

[special-agent-utah]

Well people ought not to be surprised ,this is a common practice in united states of america ...I wonder if any of these individuals up in the pictures appear on these boards on daily basis ,because quiet a few of them are veterans here ,there is always a chance you never know ...

[nojoy01]

"...and making an 11-year-old have an abortion..." If true & if this was done in an abortion clinic somewhere then there's a "doctor" & a "staff" that has some tall explaining to do as to why they didn't report an obvious case of child abuse. And if it wasn't done at a "clinic" then there's somebody else the sheriff needs to be looking for.

[Dgunner]

They need to retrained in the use of instrument of torture and physical abuse. Im free to demonstrate and relay any knowledge obtained from the viet cong. H--l It might take me three months to properly demonstrate on these men and women. Maybe sooner If I didn't take lunch breaks.

[NoWayJose9999]

..............Card carrying members of the RNC, no doubt.......

[nojoy01]

by NoWayJose9999 November 14, 2009 7:58 AM EST

..............Card carrying members of the RNC, no doubt.......
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Gosh golly geewhillikers. What an intelligent, thought-provoking, and profound comment to make on this tragedy.

[Ms_enza]

Great picture... eh? This sentence has 4 words.

[spaceatoms]

I don't know what they are on down there in the woods!