JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo. — The former Municipal Prosecuting Attorney for Jefferson County, Missouri has been federally indicted after investigators say he used his position of power to subject a woman with cases pending before him to sexual contact and lied to the FBI about it.
James Isaac “Ike” Crabtree resigned from his position in March – nearly one year after federal investigators say he met with a woman after regular business hours at the courthouse.
Sources familiar with the case tell the I-Team the alleged victim caught the encounter on her cellphone video camera and that Crabtree locked the door to his office.
A grand jury indicted Crabtree Wednesday on one count of depriving the victim of her constitutional right not to be deprived of liberty without due process of law, which includes the right to bodily integrity. The indictment also alleges Crabtree lied to the FBI during an interview with agents on March 3 when he denied kissing the victim, touching her body and having her take off a portion of her clothing during the meeting at the courthouse.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith, a Senior Litigation Counsel for the Eastern District of Missouri, is handling the case.
“The United States Attorney’s Office appreciates the courage shown by the female victim in this case to come forward and bring this defendant’s alleged criminal conduct to light.”
Thomas Dugan is now currently serving as Interim Municipal Prosecuting Attorney in Jefferson County.
Investigators believe there could be other victims.
“And they need to have support and somewhere to go to,” said Dr. Cherly Watkins, the President CEO of the YWCA of Metro St. Louis.
For decades, the YWCA has provided support, housing, food, child care and many other services to victims of sexual assault.
The agency has assisted two thousand women so far this year. A sobering statistic that comes as the 118 year old organization marks National Sexual Assault Awareness Month this April.
“We’re usually the first point of contact at a hospital for a victim of sexual assault and we’re walking them through that hospital situation all the way through the courts system. We’re one of the largest providers of sexual assault and domestic violence services in the region. We want to know women throughout the region that they can turn to us for help. They may call our crisis hotline 24 hours a day, seven days a week at (314) 531-7273, ” added Dr. Watkins.
Anyone with information is asked to call the St. Louis Office of the FBI at (314) 589-2500.