Charges filed against man accused of pleasuring himself in front of child

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (KCTV) - An Independence man is behind bars after he was allegedly caught pleasuring himself in front of a child under the age of 15.

Jackson County, Missouri, Circuit Court records filed on Saturday, May 3, indicate that Shayne P. Gillingham, 20, of Independence, has been charged with multiple child sex crimes.

A probable cause statement filed by the Independence Police Department revealed that just after 7:50 p.m. on Friday, law enforcement officials were called to a home with reports of sexual crimes committed against a child under the age of 15.

Law enforcement officials noted that Gillingham allegedly sexually assaulted the child and made her watch as he pleasured himself. A witness confirmed they had seen the pair alone in Gillingham’s bedroom as he pulled his pants up. As he was arrested, Gillingham allegedly made an admission of guilt.

During an interview with Gillingham, investigators said he admitted that he had been having sexual encounters with the child for at least a month. As a result, he has been charged with two counts of statutory sodomy, child molestation and sexual misconduct involving a child.

As of Wednesday, May 7, Gillingham remains behind bars on a $50,000 bond. A bond review hearing has been scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 13, with a preliminary hearing expected at 1 p.m. on June 2. No further information has been released.

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